Abel Ferreira hails Palmeiras win, reveals key: ‘Play like amateurs’

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·23 August 2026

Abel Ferreira hails Palmeiras win, reveals key: ‘Play like amateurs’

Palmeiras beat Vasco 4-1 this Sunday (23) at Nubank Parque. With goals from Flaco López (2), Vitor Roque, and Maurício, Verdão restored a six-point lead over second-placed Flamengo, who still have a game in hand. Colidio pulled one back for the Rio side.

Abel Ferreira’s team had a poor first half but recovered in the opening ten minutes of the second half.

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Abel speaks!

After Palmeiras’ win over Vasco this Sunday (23) in the Brazilian Championship, Abel Ferreira spoke about the team’s change in attitude in the second half, Allan’s use, and the possibility of the forward leaving the club. The coach also explained how he usually challenges the players at halftime and highlighted the importance of rebuilding the squad’s confidence and freedom in difficult moments.

Changes for the second half and Allan’s possible departure

Abel explained that other clubs’ interest in Allan is linked to the player’s ability to contribute both offensively and defensively, as well as occupy different areas of the pitch. In the coach’s view, complete players are increasingly valued in the market.

I just think these teams want Allan because he does what 90% of wingers don’t do: attack and defend. That’s why anyone who wants to take him will have to pay a lot. Top teams sign complete players. And when they find players like that, who can play at right-back, come inside and go wide, of course everyone wants them. But they also have to be developed and played.

Abel also commented on the strategy used in the second half and said the change happened mainly because of the profile of the players who were on the pitch.

I’m not judged only by results. I think our opponents, as always, came with aggression and the desire to press. In the second half, I did the same thing with different players. Nothing changed — the players were just different. Giay gave us more width, Allan moved inside, but also outside. And also the way we opened up the game. Sometimes that’s necessary.

About the goal scored in the second half, the coach highlighted the player’s individual quality and revealed that he had asked the players for more initiative during the break.

A beautiful goal, much more down to his own merit. At halftime, I asked whether they couldn’t do more individually. The coach is responsible for the tactics, but they know Palmeiras players have to be brave and take risks. We’re young, and we had a great second half at every level.

Abel also criticized the whistles coming from the stands during the first half and asked for support for the team.

There were already whistles in the first half, and that doesn’t help Palmeiras. Get behind the team. They caused us problems in the first half, and for a few minutes we had to play the ball long.

Challenging the players at halftime

The coach also spoke about how difficult it is to evaluate a team’s performance without considering factors such as the schedule, recovery time, and physical and mental fatigue.

It’s very difficult to talk about performance. People never consider the context — training time, recovery time. When you see a team failing with crosses and passes, it’s because physical and mental energy is lacking. Every team will go through good and bad spells. When they can’t produce magic, the system makes players play while tired. Then you have to change one or two to play at full strength.

Abel said he tries to convey calm to the squad in moments when the team cannot show its best football.

Who can maintain consistency here? That’s normal. I tell them to stay calm. “Stay calm, we’re going to win even if we’re not playing well,” I tell them. It’s normal. When you have four or five days, then you see creativity.

The coach used Flaco López as an example to highlight the importance of players’ individual quality and recalled the criticism the striker received in earlier moments.

Mental attitude matters. What are the two goals López scored down to? Quality. That’s why we paid 8 million, and today he’s worth 50. We spent two years with him being booed and people telling him to leave.

Abel also mentioned the match against Fluminense and criticized the tendency to devalue opponents when Palmeiras struggle.

After Fluminense, it felt like the table was upside down. Is Fluminense no good? Don’t they have a good team? So why should we devalue the teams that play against Palmeiras? Like today — are people not going to value Vasco? In the second half, is anyone going to say they had one less day of rest than Palmeiras? Are they not going to mention that? The championship is shaped by the schedule. At least three days. It has to be that way. Does anyone say that? One thing is certain: one team will win, all the others will lose.

Second half as a path to good results

Abel stressed that the team needs to take responsibility on the pitch and play with more freedom, especially the younger players.

The players have to step up first of all — all of them. Play as if they were amateurs. With passion, and that’s it. Don’t think about anything else. With joy, with passion. That’s what happens with the kids who come up from the academy — they come through and then start feeling pressure, wanting contract renewals. If they don’t win, they’ll be criticized.

The coach emphasized that football needs to be approached with more lightness, regardless of the pressure for results.

Play like amateurs, with passion, with risk. If we win, we win; if we lose, we lose. That’s football. Playing football has to be a pleasure. We’re not amateurs, but the spirit has to be that.

Abel also challenged the idea that only Palmeiras and Flamengo have squads capable of competing for titles in Brazilian football.

Many times they get so burdened. I don’t agree that in Brazil there’s only A and B. Didn’t you see Cruzeiro play yesterday? They bought a player for 40 million euros. I don’t accept it when people say it’s only Palmeiras and Flamengo. Doesn’t Fluminense play? Athletico Paranaense are top. How many competitions are there? There’s only one competition. That’s what I sometimes try to show you: what a team that plays in all of them is, and what teams that play in only one competition are.

Allan’s possible departure and replacement

Finally, Abel avoided confirming Allan’s future, but guaranteed that Palmeiras will remain competitive even if the player is sold.

I’d rather not talk about it, I don’t know what’s going to happen. If Allan leaves, we may lose quality, but we won’t lose competitiveness. You have my word on that. But 40 million for a player... congratulations to the coaching staff, the president, the director. How many players have we sold like that already? As long as he’s a Palmeiras player, I’m counting on him morning, afternoon, and night.

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