WATCH: Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus adopts drone training method

Newly-appointed Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus held his first training session at the club’s training ground which was marked by the introduction of several new features. In addition to the tactical cart and the adjusted height of the grass, the Portuguese coach made new markings in the field and brought up a drone for the training activity, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

The drone was one of the many requests by the 64-year old to carry out his progressive training methods. The device will be controlled by analysts Rodrigo Araújo and Gil Henriques of the club’s technical committee. The idea behind introducing the technology is to film the activities on the training ground and use the images to analyze errors and successes later. 

The tactical cart, however, was an idea developed by Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa. Jorge Jesus has adopted the method stating it useful for the coach’s guidelines. When necessary, coaches enter the field to correct positioning or perform tactical tests. It also serves the purpose of bringing water and isotonic to athletes. 

In field 1, a new marking was designed to give notion of compaction. The idea is that no athlete should occupy the same space allocated to his partner. In addition, the advertising boards dividing field 2 have been removed to avoid injury.

The new milli-meter cut in the grass level will increase the speed of the ball on the ground. Jorge Jesus wants to ensure that his players can pass change direction and pass quickly. Having the lawn cut lower than usual helps in this direction.

Jesus, who was officially announced as Flamengo manager earlier this month, was presented to the players and staff in front of whom he expressed his goals for the club. “The most important thing here is Flamengo, it’s not the coach or the player, it’s Flamengo, so we need to work on the goal as a team”, he said.

Flamengo currently sit third in the Brazilian Serie A and Jorge Jesus will hope to clinch the club’s first league title since 2009. The team is currently preparing for the first leg of their Copa Do Brasil quarter-final against Atletico-PR which is due to be played next month.