Andreas on Derby gamesmanship: "I was just cleaning my boots" | OneFootball

Midfielder Andreas Pereira of Palmeiras broke his silence regarding the controversy involving his name in the derby against Corinthians last Sunday. After Verdão’s victory over Internacional at Beira-Rio in the third round of the Brasileirão, the number 8 said he was just “cleaning his boots.”

“These are things that happen in football, the interviews with Raniele and Matheuzinho afterwards, these are just football things. Many people comment afterwards, of course, that’s their job, to comment, and they can say whatever they want. The important thing is that we won the game there, it was very important for us, and I was just cleaning my boots over there. There was a lot of mud underneath because the pitch was a bit loose,” he told Amazon Prime.

Palmeiras’ number 8 stepped on the penalty spot before Memphis Depay’s kick in the first half. On the attempt, the Dutchman slipped and missed the penalty, sending the ball wide of Carlos Miguel’s goal. The situation was not mentioned in Raphael Claus’ match report, but it sparked controversy after the match.

Palmeiras’ Situation

With the victory over Internacional, Palmeiras took the lead in the Brasileirão, with seven points. The team tops the table on goal difference and is closely followed by São Paulo, Fluminense, and Bahia. Now, the Alviverde squad turns its attention back to the Paulista, a tournament in which they are runners-up with 15 points.

Palmeiras’ Next Match

Match: Palmeiras vs Guarani Competition: Campeonato Paulista (8th round) Date and time: February 15, 2026 (Sunday), at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Arena Barueri, in Barueri (SP)

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