Abel on Palmeiras’ cup exit despite spending, changes 2024 tone

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·1 December 2025

Abel on Palmeiras’ cup exit despite spending, changes 2024 tone

Palmeiras was defeated by Flamengo this Saturday (29) and ended up as the runner-up in the 2025 Libertadores, nearing the end of their first season without titles under Abel Ferreira's command, precisely in the year they invested the most.

The Verdão spent almost R$ 700 million on 11 signings, including goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, midfielder Andreas Pereira, and forwards Vitor Roque and Paulinho.

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Despite the high investment, Abel Ferreira said the year was one of rebuilding during the press conference after the decision. He also mentioned the changes that occurred in the squad for this season.

“To be very honest, after so many departures and changes we made in the squad, which is not easy, you see how hard it is to rebuild. It's not just about buying expensive players. You need to create a winning mentality, you need to come to lose, build resilience, and that's why I was comparing our attack front with the opponent's. Compare our defense with the opponent's… goalkeeper, full-backs, defenders. I can't say I'm sad after so many changes we made, managing to be in the final contesting the title, that I'm sad for reaching the Libertadores final after so many changes. It's very difficult, look at Botafogo. I think we did what our team could deliver,” he commented.

“We had injuries to important players in our structure. Our goalkeeper, our engine, which was Lucas, we had two departures that we had to make (negotiate), unfortunately, we had the injury of the player who produced the most last year in Brazilian football (Paulinho)… even with all this, we were able to reach November intact. It was a tough and difficult month. The experience, the culture, the moment of my younger players remain. It's not fair to say they couldn't make it. It's a very intense moment. My players tried, they wanted to, but unfortunately, the weight of the final… in these details I mentioned, like passing first, fear of taking risks. The biggest risk we can take is not taking risks,” continued the coach.

Change in Discourse

In 2024, after being defeated by Botafogo in the Brazilian Championship and in the round of 16 of the Libertadores, Abel justified the opponent's investment to explain the defeat.

In a press conference, the Alviverde commander even made a comparison between Botafogo's squad in 2023 and the team in 2024. He cited the heavy investment in the transfer window as a differential.

“There are players with different characteristics, this player (Luiz Henrique) you are talking about cost 25 million euros, therefore, players who make a difference, whether individually or collectively. He wasn't the only one Botafogo bought for that amount, it has a lot to do with the quality of this player. There's no way, we have to recognize that Botafogo reinforced itself a lot and well this year, with experienced players. When we came here last time and lost 1-0, it's an experienced team, tough, strong in duels, that fights, that attacks depth well. It's a very vertical team, direct play and they play very well like that. Neither we surprised the opponent, nor they us, we know that each team plays with its characteristic, with its style of play. Today, in the 90 minutes, Botafogo was better and deserved to win. We are always looking for excuses, no, the opponent has merit, has good players, today was better. On Wednesday we will play at home, let's see,” he said.

And Now?

Palmeiras returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship, the only remaining competition of the season, next Wednesday (3) against Atlético-MG, away from home, in a match originally from the 34th round but played in the 37th week of the competition.

Verdão has 70 points and occupies second place in the Brasileirão, behind Flamengo, with 75. A victory for the Carioca team on Wednesday or a slip-up by Palmeiras guarantees the title to the opponent.