Abel Ferreira: Proud of Palmeiras, regrets losing Brasileirão lead

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·4. Dezember 2025

Abel Ferreira: Proud of Palmeiras, regrets losing Brasileirão lead

Palmeiras defeated Atlético-MG at Arena MRV by 2-0. The result, however, was not enough for Verdão to put pressure on Flamengo in the race for the trophy. In Rio, the club from Rio beat Ceará and secured the Brasileirão title.

Flaco López, Allan, and Luighi scored Palmeiras’ goals in the match.

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After the match, Abel Ferreira gave an overall assessment of the season for the Greatest Champion of Brazil.

Abel Speaks!

Left without titles?

Did you hear what I said on Friday? What I said after the elimination? Did you hear what the president said? I’ve already spoken about this subject all this time. And our president as well. We’ve talked a lot throughout this year. I have just one word — and I gave my word to the president. She understands that I am the coach for the project, I am the coach who led the overhaul and she wants me to stay until 2027. I said I will never be a problem, but rather a solution. I had already said this. I have nothing more to say. And the president has said it ten times.

Palmeiras’ Year and What Changes?

— Changes are needed — and not at Palmeiras. Only those I want can fool me. Palmeiras is a different and special club, and I am a coach of relationships — and only those I want can fool me. Today, there was a play just like in the Libertadores final. The titles I won at Palmeiras have no asterisk. To Palmeiras fans, I say: only those I want can fool me.

— Yes, we lost. This year we were runners-up in almost everything. Did you see the kiss I gave the medal? It was a kiss on the medal and on the Palmeiras badge. I am proud to be at Palmeiras. No title has an asterisk. We won, we lost, we played badly, but I am proud to be from Palmeiras. We gave our all on the field.

— How many times did you hear it would be against everything and everyone? That everything changed after the match against São Paulo? Here, only those I want can fool me. I am proud to be Palmeiras’ coach. And the day you feel that I no longer represent the greatness of Palmeiras, I don’t want to receive a single real for my work here. I will always be the solution.

— Did you see Fabinho from Bragantino? He didn’t play again this year. To our fans: only those I want can fool me. I am immensely proud. I didn’t kiss that medal by chance. Everyone heard what I said to the president of Conmebol. No one talked about Andreas, who got a yellow card for a play that wasn’t. No one reversed his penalty. Do you remember that?

— Congratulations to Flamengo. They were the winners of this competition, of the Libertadores. They have an excellent squad and coach. An organized club. But I am proud — very proud — of the runner-up finishes I had and have. I know what we did. Does a sending off determine the result of a match?

The Match Against Galo

— I think our lives should be filled with memories. I think everyone understands that today was a match where we carried the scars from the last game. A team that wanted to win more than lose. One thing is to lose — another is to be a loser. This team lost, but it is not a loser.

— Today, once again, we proved what this team showed this year. We arrived with scars — some still bleeding. I told them I didn’t recognize my team with the ball. We lost with the ball. They said we didn’t shoot on goal, but, statistically, we had more than Flamengo. We had a feeling of wounded pride.

— Seven players left at the start of the year. Five in the middle. We had a three-point lead and couldn’t hold on. After everything that happened… how long does it take to rebuild a team? Today, there was a clear mistake in our superiority: Piquerez first challenged for the ball. And in the Libertadores final I spoke to the referee, and he said I wasn’t intense enough. I asked if he saw the mark on Fuchs’ legs. He didn’t see it because he didn’t want to.

Today, congratulations to my players. We fought on several fronts — but only took the runner-up medal.

Trajectory at Palmeiras

I kept talking and banging my head against a wall. Regarding this, I won’t say anything. I love being at Palmeiras. This is where I like to be. As long as I feel there is energy from my players to fight for titles — because, remember? I never promised titles — I promised we would fight. And the moment I feel the cycle is over, I will go. Paulista: five years, three titles and two runner-up finishes. Libertadores: six campaigns, three finals. Brasileirão: we played five or six — two titles and three runner-up finishes. Copa do Brasil: we won one and played four more, and lost. To the fans: the world is not ending. I am lucky to be at Palmeiras in the most successful era. Palmeiras is more recognized abroad for everything the club does. It is an example for national and international clubs.

And Now?

Verdão returns to the field next Sunday (7), at 4pm (Brasília time), when they play their last match of the 2025 season, facing Ceará at Arena Castelão.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.