Palmeiras face first trophyless year under Abel after another setback | OneFootball

The Palmeiras was defeated by Flamengo this Saturday in Lima, and ended up as the runner-up in the Libertadores. However, the end of the season could be even more melancholic. For the first time in the Abel Ferreira era, the team might finish a year without winning any title.

Since the arrival of the Portuguese coach in 2020, Palmeiras has been a champion at least once every year. See the list below:

(Photo: Ernesto Benavides/AFP)

Frustrating season

This was the second time Palmeiras suffered a runner-up finish in 2025. In March, the team was beaten by Corinthians in the Campeonato Paulista final.

The third is close. Verdão still has mathematical chances, but is five points behind the leader Flamengo in the Campeonato Brasileiro standings, with two rounds left in the competition. In the Copa do Brasil and the World Cup, the club did not reach the final.

As a result, the Palmeiras fans might see a season boosted by almost R$ 700 million in reinforcements end in a disappointing way. However, this does not worry Abel, who says that his work at Palmeiras is not evaluated by the board solely based on results.

“In football, no one loses alone. I understand the culture of the country, but the culture of the club I am in is different. Fortunately, I am not evaluated only by results. If it were like that, after today, I would leave. Those inside the club do not evaluate me only by results. It’s the results, the processes, the team building, the sale of players, titles. It’s a sum,” said the coach after the Libertadores runner-up finish.

And the clause?

In mid-July this year, Abel revealed a clause that was stalling the contract renewal with Palmeiras: the Portuguese coach wanted to be released if he went through a season without achievements.

“I am here because I won. There is only one clause missing to sign with Palmeiras: if I don’t win titles, I can leave. It’s the only one missing because Leila doesn’t want to include it. I have a two-year contract to sign since January, until 2027, but I only want to stay if it’s to win titles,” the coach said at the time.

However, this idea seems to have been left in the past. Even before the Libertadores final in Lima, the coach guaranteed he will remain at the club. Leila Pereira’s desire is a renewal until the end of 2027, a date that coincides with the end of her term – the current contract expires at the end of this year.

Dream postponed

With the defeat in the final, Palmeiras saw the dream of the fourth title postponed and was surpassed by Flamengo among the biggest Libertadores champions. The Rubro-Negro is now the only Brazilian club with four continental tournament trophies. Additionally, the Alviverde was avenged for the 2021 title in Uruguay.

Next Palmeiras match

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