Erika on derby loss: backs Jhonson, trusts in Corinthians' work

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·10 February 2026

Erika on derby loss: backs Jhonson, trusts in Corinthians' work

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

After Corinthians' 1-1 draw against Palmeiras and the penalty shootout defeat in the Women's Supercup last Saturday (7th), the experienced defender Erika revealed that she wouldn't have liked to take the final to penalties, but pointed out that the team is in an intense start to the season and tends to improve with the continuity of work.

“I wouldn't like and didn't want it to go to penalties, because I don't know if penalties are luck, if it's skill, to this day I don't know, if you know, let me know. And the girls shoot very well, right? The goalkeepers too and everything else. So it's like that, sometimes you do very well in the game, you're super confident, set up the ball and miss. And then? The whole start of the year is over”, said the defender.

OneFootball Videos

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Ag. Corinthians

“But we are working for this, we had little time for everything. And it's like that, in 20 days we had two championships, played against Arsenal and came back. And I said, my God. But we are doing the work little by little. And today we had a final with a sensational classic, because we went to penalties. I abhor penalties, let's eliminate penalties, we have to go little by little, 90 minutes. But I think we need to demand a little more from the 90 minutes, because it's a classic and classics are decided in details. So it's more important for us to get in front of the goal, place that little ball, have more concentration. It's part of the work.”, she continued.

Erika also spoke about the young forward Jhonson, who had the opportunity to convert the penalty that would give Corinthians the title but ended up being stopped by the opposing goalkeeper. The defender emphasized that the athlete converted other decisive penalties and stated she would talk to the player with a cool head.

“She is one who always likes to take the shot and likes to step up to take it. So it's about keeping a level head, we talk to her, we talked there, but let her absorb it, let her handle it her way today, tomorrow, another day, and we go little by little. But understand that we need to work and work correctly for this and not let penalties happen, because we have the ability to reach 90 minutes and add a little more detail. So this is very important”, stated the defender.

The experienced defender also denied frustration over the defeat in the first two finals of 2026 and stressed that the team trusts the work done internally. Erika reiterated the need to continue making adjustments for the continuation of the season.

“Man, I don't even know if the word is frustrated, you know? Because we are at the beginning of the year, we have already played two championships, we went to the finals. In a short time, in 20, 30 days, bursting, training to make everything work. We reached the finals, we had good results abroad too, which is something unknown to us, right? We don't talk much about our work, the doubt about our work, because we didn't know what this unknown was, playing against Arsenal, Gotham and everything else”, she said.

“So I think it's more about that, it's not doubt about our work, it's knowing what a game between Corinthians and some team from abroad will be like. And then when we come back here, there's already a huge challenge, which is a classic, playing against Palmeiras, but we have to take advantage, because it's the details that win a match, a classic like this, we can't slip up, we have to work much harder, to resolve it in 90 minutes. I believe we have the mindset for this too, the team for this, a great team for this, but now it's little by little. Lower our heads there, tomorrow if it's a day off, recover and work, because we still have a full year”, she added.

The defender also spoke about the possibility of playing at the Neo Química Arena soon, a possibility mentioned by president Osmar Stabile amid issues with hosting games at the Alfredo Schürig Stadium, Fazendinha, at night. Erika celebrated the chance to play in Itaquera and emphasized the support the team receives from the fans at the stadium.

“Man, if he said that, which I didn't know, but if he said that, I loved it, how cool. We really like Fazendinha, our home, but unfortunately, we still have some setbacks in relation to that, and even more, knowing that we are going to play at the Neo Química Arena, there we fill it up, the crowd really goes, we like it, we are at home, and all of this is a consequence, so wherever it is, we will do our best, you can be sure, but I'm happy to know that”, commented the player.

Finally, the Corinthians defender also spoke about the comments made by forward Gabi Portilho after Corinthians' victory over Gotham FC, from the USA, her current team. On the occasion, the player criticized the management of Timão and revealed that the victory would “mask many things”. Erika said that maybe it wasn't the best time for this kind of talk, but she understood the athlete and wished her success.

“It's part of it, man. Everyone has a way of reacting after leaving the club, and maybe she still has some resentment about many things that happened, like many here too, that's normal. Maybe it wasn't such a moment to release some things, because she knows what we live, she knows what we go through too, maybe that's why she said what she said, and that's normal. But maybe that moment to exalt, because it was so beautiful for us, it was so cool, and she has already been on this side. But Portilho has a very calm head in relation to all of this, she knows very well what she says, she knows very well what she does, how much she has already helped us here, and just let Portilho work, and we will be happy with the results she is also achieving abroad, and that's it, we continue”, she concluded.

Now, Corinthians returns to the field on the next day 13, Friday, at 9 pm (Brasília time), against Atlético-MG in the debut of the 2026 Women's Brasileirão. The match will take place at the MRV Arena, in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais.

See more: