Abel hails Palmeiras’ efficiency and Arias’ debut: “Good headache” | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira highlighted the effectiveness of Palmeiras in the 4-0 victory over Capivariano this Saturday at Arena Barueri, a result that qualified the team for the semifinals of the Campeonato Paulista. The coach, however, believes that the score was a bit too lopsided for what was actually presented in the match.

“The result was very lopsided for what the game actually was. Our opponent never gave up playing, they pressed us a lot. Congratulations to them for their boldness. They created, had opportunities, they could have scored. For me, effectiveness is decisive in football. Today I think we were effective, unlike our last match,” analyzed the Portuguese coach in a press conference.

“It was a tough game, but I think in the end the victory was fair. We had the commitment and responsibility to show on the field that we were favorites. We were serious, we translated favoritism onto the pitch,” he added.

“A Good Headache”

The Palmeiras coach has gained another option for the team's attacking sector: Jhon Arias. The Colombian made his debut in the green and white shirt this Saturday and won the penalty converted by Andreas Pereira. Abel sees the arrival of the player as a “good headache.”

“First, I want to thank the president who made a signing of this level. That’s the most important thing. I don’t play with 11 players, I play with the 23 we have plus the support of the boys who come up from the academy. This headache is very good for me. It’s always easier when you have high-level players. I’m very happy to have two players for the position [Arias and Allan], we need that to give rest to the players who play on the wings, they are the most frequently substituted,” he said.

“He’s a player who will help us [Arias], you saw the calm he has and the way he won that penalty. It’s a good headache. They can play more centrally, but at the moment I count on them for the wings, whether on the right or left side. With Felipe’s return, we are well served on the wings. Good options, I’m grateful to have these players at my disposal,” he concluded.

(Photo: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras)

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On to the Semis

Having qualified, Palmeiras awaits the other two quarterfinal matches to find out their opponent in the semi, which is expected to be played next weekend. Abel Ferreira, however, has already hinted that the decisive match should be played away from Allianz Parque, which is undergoing a pitch renovation.

“It will be here [Barueri], I think. I have to tell our fans that when we play together, we are much stronger. We won’t always play well, some players will have ups and downs, but if we all play together, put Palmeiras above everything and everyone, it helps a lot. The stadium was spectacular today,” praised the coach.

The coach also spoke about Verdão’s good start to the season in Barueri. With the win over Capivariano, the team reached 20 consecutive home victories. Abel praised the synthetic pitch at the club’s second home.

“I think it’s the second or third year we’ve started the season away from our true home. No excuses. We play to win. I thank the fans for making the effort to come, it’s what we have. The synthetic pitch is just like natural grass, when it’s bad, you change it. The one here is top. Better than 70% of the natural pitches in Brazil. I’ve seen bad synthetic ones. When that happens, the CBF needs to demand a replacement. I like playing here because the pitch is top. You can see the game’s dynamics. I’m always comparing football to Formula 1. Bad pitches are like racing on a bumpy track. If we’re going to have bad pitches, I prefer good synthetic ones,” he concluded.

Palmeiras’ Next Match

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