Abel: We know Palmeiras’ strength away, value the advantage | OneFootball

In a lively match at Arena Crefisa Barueri, Palmeiras defeated Novorizontino 1-0 and takes a good advantage into the return match in the São Paulo countryside. Flaco López scored the goal for Palmeiras in the match. Still in the first half, Carlos Miguel saved a penalty.

Unlike in previous years, Abel Ferreira's Palmeiras won the first game of the final, something the coach had not achieved before. To become champions, the team led by the Portuguese coach will have to break another taboo: winning the trophy away from home.

Speak, Abel!

After the first match of the final, Abel Ferreira spoke to the press about the clash against Novorizontino.

After the disallowed goal, Palmeiras' performance dropped and minimal advantage for the return and Sunday's game:

— First, to say that these are the two best teams that reached the final. Second, two difficulties were foreseen: the first, our opponent; and the second, one less day of recovery. These were the difficulties. They organized very well, but we did well in blocking. We were good in set pieces. In the first half, we started strong, scored the goal, then a ball hit the post by Allan, then a cross from Andreas that Murilo missed. And then, in the second half, the disallowed goal and Khellven's play. Then they managed to block us. Now we go to our opponent's home. A final is always difficult.

Choice of Sosa over Vitor Roque, condition of the number nine for the first leg:

— You saw Vitor Roque leaving in tears, and therefore the difference lies in the recovery days. It's always difficult, it's like beating a dead horse, it seems like an excuse, but there's no way around it. Two or three days make a difference. I've always said this, and I'll say it if I stay another five or ten years. If he didn't play, there was a reason for it.

Will Jhon Arias be a starter? What's missing for that?

— Nothing is missing, the team is doing well. He's a player who helps us. A team doesn't play with just 11, and a match is often decided in the second half. Here we are all equal. It's not about age, color, or experience. He is an option we have, who can come off the bench or start when the coach wants.

Result and performance, what is the level of satisfaction?

— Two difficulties we anticipated beforehand. Even knowing the difficulties, we created opportunities to score another goal. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Now it's about preparing our team. We know the strength of our opponent at home, but we also know the strength of Palmeiras away.

Allan having difficulties?

— It's easy to see that on the other side there's tighter marking. Some full-backs prefer to give more space, others don't. It's normal to have more difficulties. In the game against São Paulo, he was more inside; today more outside and more directly marked. He played well, could have scored, but unfortunately, it didn't go in. But he had to leave due to fatigue.

Do hydration breaks help or not? How do you deal with this time?

— I particularly like it. If we're doing well, it's good. If we're not, it's good to correct. It's almost like a technical timeout to remind the game plan. Today I was expecting it later, but it was at 20 minutes. I particularly like this break. No matter how much you're on the bench, some talk more, others less. But the player inside, the moment he listens is in the locker room, during halftime, during breaks. The rest only if it's the players next to him. With a full stadium, nothing reaches there. But yes, I like it.

Carlos Miguel standing out:

— We have to pay the price. We know the difficulty of playing against this team. We have an advantage, nothing more than that. Another 90 minutes. About Carlos Miguel: he's a young athlete with tremendous potential. He's very lucky to have Lomba by his side, a great colleague who helps and pushes him. But it's always good when there's a penalty and he saves it, it's important to give confidence to him, to us, and to the fans. It's always good for a goalkeeper who has a present and future. When we signed him, it was thinking about the present and the future. We're happy for him. And it wasn't easy, he managed to guess the side. Congratulations to him.

Rômulo playing in the return:

— As I told you, Rômulo was a player we signed for his performance in the Paulistão. Then he had difficulties with us and in Ceará, but it seems that in Novorizontino is where he feels good. At Palmeiras, there are qualified players. We loaned him to Ceará, but he ended up not playing much. But if the coach decides to play him, they can. He's a player with resources, has numbers, but that's not my decision.

And now?

With an advantage for the decisive game, Verdão returns to the field next Sunday (8), at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), in the São Paulo countryside. Palmeiras is seeking their 27th Campeonato Paulista trophy.

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