Abel Ferreira on gesture and Flaco López at Palmeiras: ‘He’s like a son’

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·6 May 2026

Abel Ferreira on gesture and Flaco López at Palmeiras: ‘He’s like a son’

Palmeiras beat Sporting Cristal 2-0 in Peru and took the lead in their group in the Conmebol Libertadores. Flaco López and Ramón Sosa scored Palmeiras’ goals in the match. The highlight was Verdão’s first clean sheet in the 2026 Libertadores, practically securing a place in the round of 16 of the continental competition.

Abel speaks!

After the match, Abel Ferreira gave a press conference following the Libertadores win. The Portuguese coach was blunt and spoke about Flaco López, the schedule, and the current state of Brazilian football.

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What is Palmeiras missing to convince the critics?

Who is playing well and consistently in Brazil with the schedule we have? Did you see how many fans were at home? I’ve already told our supporters what, in general, we can expect. I want you to tell me who is playing well. São Paulo? Corinthians? Santos? Cruzeiro? Flamengo? Or are we only looking at the moment? Or will I have to agree with Luis Henrique. But he is right, there are many opinions. The fans know the coach. Talking about work means talking about context; we can’t raise chickens and eat picanha. How many times has the Palmeiras coach said that when people want a show, it’s not just the schedule I talk about, it’s the schedule, the pitch, time to train and improve the team. But I’ll end how I started: tell me one consistent team that is playing better, and even with little time, I’ll watch 4 or 5 matches. Our team is consistent, competitive, gives everything it has. For the rest, I have to agree with Luis Henrique, there are good opinions and others that I won’t say what he said. I want to see Palmeiras’ stadium full and the fans supporting. As for the media, I won’t say anything, because I already know them.

How is Paulinho physically?

– I would like to explain in detail, but there are things you can’t know. He is following a schedule that we will continue with based on the coach’s decision, the medical staff, and conversations with the player. You don’t need to know anything else. - he said

Request to postpone a match

– Has anyone asked why there have been so many injuries in recent months? Are we protecting the players? Isn’t the number of injuries due to the overload and number of matches? Aren’t the players going to the World Cup afraid of getting injured? Does whoever organizes this think about that?

– I’m not asking for a week; since I arrived I’ve said we need at least three days and then play on the fourth. Palmeiras, looking at Palmeiras’ schedule and the other teams’, whoever gets the better schedule wins the Brasileirão. We asked to postpone the Bragantino game and the cup match, and it was denied. We are in two blocks of four straight matches in two-day intervals. – he stated

Flaco López’s current form and his gesture toward the striker

He’s the player I get on the most. Even today, when you saw it, I made a gesture to him. I demand a lot from him. He knows where he has to be. I explain it to him morning, noon, and night. I send him videos on WhatsApp. He has to be in the golden zone. After he was coming back, he did this, and I did this, but with the other finger. He has everything—he isn’t one yet, but he has everything to be a world-class center forward, but at Palmeiras. I treat him like a son, I demand a lot from him. I know the potential he has, just ask the players. I told him he had to be there. I demand a lot from him. If he starts dropping deep and providing assists, he’ll sit. He has to score goals, get into the box, and score. I don’t want to see him playing as a holding midfielder and dropping so much.