Abel Ferreira on Palmeiras attack battle: ‘Whoever performs plays’

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Nosso Palestra

·6 August 2026

Abel Ferreira on Palmeiras attack battle: ‘Whoever performs plays’

Palmeiras lost 3-2 to Fortaleza at Arena Pantanal, with goals from Flaco López and Murilo, but advanced in the Copa do Brasil thanks to their 3-0 win in the first leg at Nubank Parque. Verdão is back in the quarterfinals of the national competition after three years.

Abel speaks!

Abel Ferreira began the press conference by thanking the fans for their support and taking full responsibility for the team’s performance.

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First, I want to thank the fans for their affection. We know our responsibility. No matter where, against whom, or who is playing, we step onto the pitch to win. Today, we did not have our competitive machine switched on. We gave away too much space, we were unfocused, and the biggest responsibility is mine.

The coach explained that there were three objectives for the match: to win, rotate the squad, and assess the physical condition of some players.

We had three objectives: win, rotate the squad, and see the fitness level of some players. We know Fuchs, Gómez, and Barboza are injured. On the left side, we had Under-20 players. They fought and gave everything, but the main objective was not achieved. The responsibility is mine.

What motivates you at Palmeiras?

Abel said that his biggest motivation is still winning titles and highlighted the club’s management model.

What motivates me is winning titles. That’s why I’m at Palmeiras, and that’s what we’ve been doing in recent years.

The coach praised the squad’s increased value, the commitment to youth players, and the club’s administrative continuity.

Look at the club’s valuation, more than R$1.4 billion. Look at the youngest team competing for titles — it’s Palmeiras. We had responsible management under Galiotte and we continue to have it under Leila, always winning. Today you saw seven academy players. We know what they can give us, and we believe in them.

For Abel, Palmeiras has become a reference point on and off the pitch.

Palmeiras should be a club to be copied. If I were on the other side, I would do that. I draw inspiration from the best. Palmeiras is an example of financial management, continuity, and processes.

A “good headache” when picking the lineup

Regarding competition for places, Abel stressed that meritocracy remains the main criterion.

For me, it’s easy. We have rules, and they are based on performance. What you see in matches, I see every day in training. Whoever is doing better plays. Names never play — whoever performs is the one who plays.

Arias, Riquelme, and the competition

When commenting on Riquelme’s performance, Abel called for balance in evaluations and pointed out that the youngster had recently been decisive.

Today, Riquelme did not have his best game, but I need to remind you that against Juventude, he came on very well and helped us win.

The coach criticized evaluations based only on the most recent match.

You always judge a player by the last game. I don’t. Here, nobody is handed an opportunity. They work to earn it.

He then praised the arrival of Jhon Arias.

Arias makes any coach better. Today I took off a 20-year-old player and brought on someone who has played in a World Cup, for Fluminense, with a lot of experience behind him. He makes any coach better. He helps us a lot in attack, and I’m impressed by his defensive work. He helps Arthur a lot.

The heat is no excuse

Finally, Abel dismissed any justification related to the high temperatures and once again took the blame for the result.

It was hot for me, for Fortaleza’s coach, and for everyone. There are no excuses. The responsibility is mine.

The manager stressed that, even with changes to the team, Palmeiras had an obligation to win.

If you ask me whether this is my best team, it isn’t. But it was a team good enough to come here and play to win. Today we didn’t do that.

Draw at the CBF

The quarterfinal matchups will be decided by draw next Tuesday (11) at 11 a.m. (Brasília time) at CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Alongside Palmeiras, Santos, Atlético-MG, Cruzeiro, Grêmio, and Vasco have already qualified. This Thursday (6), the other two spots will be decided in the matchups Corinthians vs. Internacional and Vitória vs. Athletico-PR.

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