Palmeiras back in training, focus shifts to Brasileirão clash | OneFootball

On the morning of this Thursday (25), Palmeiras returned to training at the Football Academy, just a few hours after their 3 to 1 victory over River Plate-ARG, at Allianz Parque, a result that secured their qualification for the CONMEBOL Libertadores semi-finals. In the last six years, the Verdão has reached the penultimate stage of the tournament five times and lifted the trophy twice.

How was the training?

The starters of the match carried out regenerative activities in the recovery and neuroscience center, including defender Gustavo Gómez, who left the field after suffering a blow and presented swelling in the eye region. The rest of the squad took to the field for technical work under the command of Abel Ferreira's staff.

Speak, Piquerez!

Verdão's captain after Gómez's departure, left-back Joaquín Piquerez highlighted the atmosphere experienced at Allianz Parque.

— Yesterday's game was very big. Both River and Palmeiras are very big teams at a continental and global level. It was a victory in 180 minutes and, despite the score being 5 to 2, it was very fought and suffered. The atmosphere of yesterday's game was a real Libertadores climate, of final, of decision. We thank the fans for the great party they made. Thank God, we managed to close at home with our people, playing in a good way, ending with a very good result. We took a big step in this journey, but our main goal is to reach the final and fight for another Libertadores — he said.

The Uruguayan also commented on the sequence in the Brazilian Championship, in which Palmeiras returns to the field on Sunday (28), against Bahia, in Salvador, at 4pm.

— We saw last week that one team played in the first leg against River and another played against Fortaleza. There you can see the strength of the squad, how good, competitive and prepared it is to fight for more than one competition at the same time. Now we go to Bahia to face a great team too, which has a great squad and is fighting there at the top. We have to focus, go there and seek a good result which are the three points to continue in this fight for the Brasileirão — he said.

With 209 games and 17 goals for the club, Piquerez also spoke about the importance of the more experienced players amid the squad's overhaul.

— This is demonstrated day by day, in training, with professionalism, being a good example especially for the younger boys who come from the base. Sometimes, they have to choose who to follow as an example, so we try to demonstrate this. I managed to win some titles here, but there are also other great players who are leaders, who have won more titles than me. I think the 'kids' have to look at this type of player because they are successful within the club, the path they took to achieve victories is the correct one.

— I hope that the players who have arrived can see this too, everyone helping. We had a very big overhaul, we are still in this process of generating this very united, very strong squad. With this type of victories like yesterday's and continuing to fight for the title, the team becomes more united, stronger. I hope we can continue on this path, reach the end of the season and lift another trophy — he concluded.

AND NOW?

Palmeiras awaits the winner of the duel between LDU-EQU and São Paulo in the Libertadores semi-final. In the Brasileirão, Abel Ferreira's team visits Bahia on Sunday (28), at 4pm (Brasília time).

Palmeiras' next games

Bahia x Palmeiras – Brasileirão – 28/09 (Sunday), 4pm (Brasília time)

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