Leadership, cups and managing fatigue: how Palmeiras plan for the Fifa break | OneFootball

Palmeiras enter the Fifa break as Paulista champions and Brasileirão leaders after a 1-0 win over São Paulo. They now have 11 days before facing Grêmio in Barueri, with three days off scheduled.

The squad return on Wednesday, though head coach Abel Ferreira is in Portugal visiting family as part of staff rotation. According to Globo.com, he is expected back at the weekend, with João Martins leading training.

It follows a gruelling start, 20 matches in 71 days across state and league, roughly one every three to four days. Early rotation tightened in the Paulista knockouts, and fatigue showed from the semi-final against São Paulo.

Vitor Roque suffered ankle pain in that tie, missed the first leg of the final with Novorizontino, then started the return and scored the winner, but he has not started since. A tailored plan is in place for him, with Marlon Freitas also monitored.

Several heavy-minute players are away on international duty, including Maurício, Gustavo Gómez and Sosa with Paraguay, and Flaco López with Argentina. The club are liaising with the national teams over physical load.

Paulinho is in physical transition after an injury lay-off since August, and there is an expectation he could return after the Fifa window. Attention now turns to April, when the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil begin. Palmeiras are in Group F with Cerro Porteño, Sporting Cristal and Junior Barranquilla, and meet Jacuipense, while three straight away games follow Grêmio, including the Libertadores opener in Cartagena.

Source: Globo.com