Palmeiras’ main ultras call for Abel Ferreira to go: ‘Small-time football’ | OneFootball

Palmeiras’ poor run added a new chapter after the defeat to Cerro Porteño at the Allianz Parque, a result that increased the pressure on coach Abel Ferreira and complicated the team’s situation in the Conmebol Libertadores.

On Thursday afternoon (21), Mancha Alviverde released an extremely harsh official statement, calling for the immediate departure of the Portuguese manager and also criticizing the management of president Leila Pereira and football director Anderson Barros.

The text says Palmeiras is living an “illusion” sustained by numbers and isolated results, but that on the pitch the team has been playing what it considers poor football for months. The supporters’ group also recalled recent episodes of tension between Abel Ferreira and the fans, such as the coach’s strong irritation after being insulted by Palmeiras supporters during an elimination against Corinthians at Allianz Parque in 2025.

Read Mancha Alviverde’s full statement:

“The legend of Fata Morgana is about mirages: you look from afar, it seems grand, it seems real… but when you get close, there is nothing there.

This has been Palmeiras for the last three years.

The numbers show leadership, unbeaten runs, “historic” campaigns. But when the moment of truth comes, all that’s left is runner-up finishes, elimination, and at best a Paulista title to try to mask reality.

Abel Ferreira, no one is erasing your history.Your winning past will always be remembered.But no one is obliged to accept this shameful present on the pitch either.

Palmeiras haven’t been playing real football for a long time.The difference is that before, the results hid the mess.

Anyone following closely could already see a lost team for months: long balls forward, pointless crosses, players out of position, a disorganized team, with no tactical pattern, no creativity, and no reaction.

And all of that falls directly on the coach.

Today’s Abel has become an arrogant, unstable, and lost coach.

Childish send-offs hurting his own team, aggressive press conferences, mocking answers, and an unbearable habit of looking for excuses for everything. He complains about the refereeing, complains about the schedule, complains about the pitch, complains about the press… but rarely takes responsibility for the ridiculous football Palmeiras are playing.

The team is poorly coached.No intensity, no attacking moves, no soul, and no leadership.An expensive, millionaire squad playing small-time football.

Leila Pereira.Palmeiras cannot live on marketing and interviews alone.

In your two terms, the major titles have been nowhere to be seen. In decisive matches, there has been a lack of authority, a lack of command, and an excess of talk.

Palmeiras have become a club that talks a lot and plays very little.

Anderson Barros.He slimmed down after Mounjaro, but the incompetence is still heavy.He was the one who built this unbalanced squad with no backup options. A team without reliable full-backs, without a creative midfielder, and with a weak bench for a club the size of Palmeiras.

A long season requires planning, requires signings, and requires competence. Players will get injured, that’s part of football. Whoever has money needs to be prepared for that.

Palmeiras today have money to spare and competence in short supply.The fans supported the team the whole time. They sang, encouraged, packed the stadium, and pushed on even while watching horrible football for months.But support does not mean silence.The pressure will always be there whenever necessary.Because Palmeiras are bigger than any coach, bigger than any president, and bigger than any director.

Saturday is do-or-die.We will support for the full 90 minutes.But after the final whistle, no one will accept living off the past while the present sinks our future.

OUT ABEL… Oh! If he leaves, who will come in? Jorge Jesus, some other Portuguese coach or, who knows, the current PAOK manager?

Leila, your time is coming. 2027 is just around the corner.Anderson Barros is already on borrowed time.”

What now?

With the defeat, Palmeiras lost the lead in Libertadores Group F, taken over precisely by Cerro. The Paraguayan side has ten points, compared to Verdão’s eight. Sporting Cristal are third with six.

Palmeiras’ next Libertadores match is next Thursday (28), against Junior, again in São Paulo, in the sixth and final round of the Libertadores group stage. A win will secure the team a place in the round of 16.

Before that, the team faces Flamengo on Saturday (23) at 9 p.m. (Brasília time) in the 17th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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