Palmeiras woes before River: Abel Ferreira in Portugal, future unclear | OneFootball

While Palmeiras arrives as the best team from the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, their coach is experiencing hectic days: absent from training due to a trip to Portugal, criticized by the fans, and with rumors of a possible departure.

Palmeiras closed the group stage with an impeccable campaign: six victories, perfect score, 18 goals for and only four against. A devastating performance that contrasts with River's hard-fought qualification, which needed the outstanding performance of Franco Armani in penalties to advance. However, beyond the numbers, the current situation of the Paulista team is marked by internal tensions directly involving Abel Ferreira.

The Portuguese coach traveled to his country to resolve personal matters, and this absence, in the midst of preparation for the quarterfinal series against the "Millonario", caused significant unrest among the fans. The lackluster draw against Corinthians in the Brasileirao did not help calm the waters, and during the FIFA date, the "Verdao" trains without their leader, whose return has not yet been officially confirmed by the club.

The relationship with the fans has been strained: Ferreira is already being criticized for a performance that does not convince, despite the investment in reinforcements, and was the target of insults after the elimination in the Copa de Brasil.

With a contract in place until December, the management intends to renew it until 2027, but the coach —two-time Libertadores champion in 2020 and 2021— has not yet responded and, according to reports, has received inquiries from both Asia and Europe.

In this context, the name of Artur Jorge emerged as a potential replacement, although Ferreira's camp dispelled doubts in the short term. "Whoever comes, will not leave in the middle of the season," assured Hugo Cajuda, his representative, in an interview with ESPN Brazil.

Thus, it seems that Abel will be on the bench when Palmeiras faces River. It will be a new duel with Marcelo Gallardo, a coach whom the Portuguese has always publicly praised. Although in São Paulo no one dares to predict what his future holds, the clash with the Millonario comes at a moment of maximum tension for the Verdao and their coach.

The internal conflict between Palmeiras' president and coach Abel Ferreira over the transfer market has erupted

Three weeks before the first leg against River in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, Palmeiras is suffering from an internal crisis between their coach and their president.

Abel Ferreira expressed his frustration in a press conference after drawing with Corinthians and pointed to the lack of a forward on the bench, a situation that upset Leila Pereira, president of the "Verdao" who spent €100 million in the last transfer market.

According to Brazilian media, the top official is upset by the situation, as she made every effort in the last market, explaining that everything the coach requested was brought in and even threw the ball back: "He changed the system with the market closed", which is why Palmeiras did not add another attacker.

After the Club World Cup and the sale of Estevao Willian, the Paulista team failed to add the necessary offensive power, Ferreira changed the scheme to try to replace him.

Palmeiras' signings in the last transfer market

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