Filipe Luís explains 'fundamental' key to his fitness for Flamengo | OneFootball

Filipe Luís has claimed the rotation Flamengo have employed in recent weeks has played a huge part in helping him stay the course this season.

The Rubro-Negro have already lifted this season’s Copa do Brasil, and arrived in Ecuador on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final against fellow Brasileirão side Athletico Paranaense.

They travelled on the back of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Santos – their fourth league win in a row – which lifted them to second in the table and further increased their chances of securing a top-four spot.

With their title chances all but gone, Manager Dorival Júnior took the somewhat risky decision to start largely second-string sides for league games in recent weeks as he prioritised having his best side available for major cup ties.

Speaking to an official CONMEBOL podcast, veteran left-back Luís explained how the policy has benefited him immensely.

“Today, I am a reinvented player, readapted to the new reality of what my body allows,” he said, per Gazeta Esportiva.

“And one of the things that Dorival did with me was fundamental, it was this relay, this load of minutes.

“Ayrton Lucas is also playing very well. This internal competition made them both grow, but mainly this rest that my body needs, because the big problem of the player over 30 is playing every three days.

“If they were always every four days, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

The 37-year-old former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea man is expected to start in Guayaquil as the Mengão look to win the competition for just the third time in their history.