Palmeiras midfielder loses place after strong run as starter | OneFootball

Since the Club World Cup, Maurício has struggled to establish himself at Palmeiras. The midfielder has played 18 matches during this period, but with inconsistent participation: he started in 11 games, was left out of five, and came on as a substitute in only two. The situation became even more evident after the last FIFA break, when the player was on the field just once – precisely against Fortaleza, a match in which Abel Ferreira fielded an almost entirely reserve team. On that occasion, Maurício played 70 minutes, but since then he hasn’t had consistent opportunities.

The loss of space may be directly related to the arrival of Andreas Pereira, who was signed by Verdão in the last transfer window and quickly integrated into the team. The former Fulham player took over the right side of the midfield, a position Maurício had frequently occupied since joining the club. With Andreas in good form and showing personality in big games, Abel began to prioritize him in the starting lineup, leaving number 18 in the background.

In addition to the competition, the collective scenario also weighs against number 18. Palmeiras is going through a series of decisive matches in the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Libertadores, which has led Abel to field more stable lineups, reducing the chances to rotate the squad in matches that require higher technical demands.

Despite this low point, Maurício continues to train as usual at the Football Academy and remains focused on regaining his place. Abel Ferreira has already shown on other occasions that he values commitment in training and players’ ability to adapt, factors that could put the midfielder back in the coach’s plans.

What now?

Palmeiras returns to the field next Wednesday (1), at 7:00 PM (Brasília time) against Vasco, at Allianz Parque. The match is part of the Brazilian Championship.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

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