Luxemburgo hopes to avoid Flamengo relegation
RIO DE JANEIRO, August 3, 2014 (AFP) — Rio giants Flamengo’s new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has said in an interview published Sunday that his only aim is to avoid relegation.
The 62-year-old took over the Carioca club for the fourth time on July 23.
The 2009 champions are currently sitting in the relegation zone with just 10 points from their 12 games, although they won their only league game under Luxemburgo 1-0 against Botafogo last Sunday.
“The players must understand that they must get the club out of this situation that they have put it into,” said Luxemburgo in an interview published in Sunday’s edition of O Globo.
“We have 10 points and we need 37 points to avoid relegation. That means we need 47 percent of the 78 points still available. That’s our championship.”
Luxemburgo first guided the Rio giants in 1991.
He has won five Brazilian titles but those were with Palmeiras, Cruzeiro (two each) and Corinthians.
However, he has tasted success with Flamengo, guiding them to the Rio State championship in 1991 and again 20 years later.
