For Filipe Luis, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ represents a full-circle moment. Having twice played in the tournament, when it was known as the FIFA Club World Cup™, during the twilight of his career on the pitch with Flamengo, he now leads the Rio giants from the sideline as they search for more silverware.
As the 40-year explains to FIFA on the eve of the tournament’s final stages commencing, he’s thrilled to be back in Qatar with a shot at tasting global glory.
“I’m really proud to be here and to lead my players in this amazing competition. I played in both the 2019 and 2022 tournaments and it was a really amazing experience.
“Now to have the chance again as a head coach, I feel that it’s an honour. We have to enjoy it because we are so proud to be here.”
Flamengo’s first assignment is a date with Mexican power Cruz Azul in the FIFA Derby of the Americas on 10 December at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. It’s a challenge Filipe Luis is eagerly anticipating, especially with the opportunity to his test himself against Cruz Azul’s Argentinian coach Nicolas Larcamon, who is almost exactly a year old than he is.
“Cruz Azul is a really good club, a good team, well-prepared, well-trained. They defend really well, aggressive, man-to-man marking sometimes.
“They also try to play, they try to build from the back and they have good players, quality players, and also the manager, you can see that he’s doing beautiful work there.
“It’s going to be tough, as always, in a high-level competition. The elite level means that it is really difficult to compete, but we also have quality players to compete against them and the best team will deserve to win.”
One thing that Flamengo won’t lack is confidence and belief, on the back of another wildly successful season. Having reached the knockout stage at the FIFA Club World Cup, they then won the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup, before adding the Brazilian league championship.
Steeled with belief and good form, Filipe Luis senses that his side is ready to push for the world title.
“Well, we also won the Brazilian Super Cup and the Campeonato Carioca. Of course, winning the Libertadores was a huge achievement, and the Brazilian [league], which is for me the most difficult in South America.
“We are so happy to have won all these titles and now we are here and when we wear Flamengo’s shirt we go to win.
“Flamengo has a DNA. The supporters, they want always the team to be aggressive, to try to steal the ball from the opponent and to attack as quick as possible.”
The winner of the Derby of the Americas will advance to face Pyramids FC in the FIFA Challenger Cup on 13 December, with the winner of that clash facing Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup four days later.
“We have good energy inside the dressing room,” added Felipe Luis. “So we really believe that we can beat Cruz Azul, then Pyramids in the semi-finals, and make it to the final against Paris Saint-Germain, who are the best team in the world right now.”
