Palmeiras seek response after Abel blasts call-ups: “No desire”

In partnership with

Nosso Palestra

·23 May 2026

Palmeiras seek response after Abel blasts call-ups: “No desire”

Palmeiras are trying to get back to winning ways after a 1-0 defeat to Cerro Porteño last Wednesday (20) at Allianz Parque in the Libertadores.

To do so, the team is counting on names such as Gustavo Gómez, Flaco López, Jhon Arias and Maurício, players who, according to coach Abel Ferreira, showed a drop in performance on the eve of the World Cup.

OneFootball Videos

In the coach’s view, Palmeiras lacked “desire” in the loss to Cerro Porteño, in a match valid for the fifth round of the Libertadores group stage.

Abel admits subpar display and demands aggression

After the match, Abel acknowledged that Palmeiras played one of their worst recent home games and pointed to a lack of intensity from the team.

“We have to admit that today we played a poor game,” the coach said.

“I have to admit that in terms of desire, performance and aggression, our opponent was better than us. That was clear in every duel we were able to watch,” he added.

The Portuguese coach also took responsibility for the below-par performance.

“The greatest responsibility always lies with the coach. But there was a lack of inspiration and some technical actions, and we were unable to create more chances,” he analyzed.

Coach cites wear and tear from the schedule

Abel Ferreira once again complained about the demanding run of matches and travel faced by the Palmeiras squad this season.

According to him, the physical and mental toll directly affects the team’s performance.

“It was a poor game, we have to admit it. A team that had not lost at home in 17 games, and like many teams in the Brasileirão, is suffering because of the schedule and the travel,” he said.

Abel comments on World Cup anxiety

During the interview, Abel was also asked about the possibility of players easing off because of the World Cup’s proximity.

Among Palmeiras’ starters, Gustavo Gómez, Jhon Arias and Flaco López appear as strong candidates to be called up by their national teams.

“Put yourself in the players’ shoes. The World Cup comes around every four years, and some will go there once in their lives and never again,” the coach said.

Even so, Abel avoided directly linking the drop in performance to the tournament.

“My way of dealing with it is to try to prepare for the games in the same way,” he added.

Palmeiras face Flamengo in direct showdown

Even after the Libertadores defeat, Abel played down the pressure ahead of the clash against Flamengo this Saturday (21) in the Brazilian Série A Championship.

The coach even cited Paris Saint-Germain as an example to show that defeats are part of the season, even for top-level teams.

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