Hulk was once again a standout player in the system Marcão designed for Fluminense. It was the 40-year-old striker who provided the assist for Nonato's goal that opened the 2-0 victory over Platense in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. And it was also his goal that sealed the 2-0 scoreline. The veteran reached his sixth direct goal contribution, with four scored and two assisted, in the last six games for the club.
A performance that is beginning to undo the skepticism from tricolor fans who had even booed him in the early matches. And there was no magic behind this change. Fluminense seems to have learned how to play with the prolific striker using a simple recipe.
The strategy consists of two defensive midfielders protecting play through the center, lately Martinelli and Nonato. Two wingers closing the lateral corridors, usually Canobbio, and Ganso orchestrating the offensive balls the way Hulk likes best, sometimes a low pass between the lines in shooting range, sometimes over the top behind the opposition's back line.
