Abel hails Palmeiras’ resilience: “I must prove myself daily” | OneFootball

Coach Abel Ferreira praised the resilience of Palmeiras after the 2026 Campeonato Paulista title on Sunday night, against Novorizontino. The Portuguese coach recalled the criticism faced after a streak of three runner-up finishes in 2025 and highlighted the collective work of the Verdão club.

“I talk a lot about ‘us’. This work is not mine, it’s ours. It’s a job that starts with our president, who has the ability to recognize the competence of her professionals and support them. With the three runner-up finishes last year, maybe I would have been fired at any other club in Brazil. We went through a renewal. If I had lost today, I would be very sad, but I wouldn’t think I’m the worst in the world. When the coach is competent, the president recognizes it,” said the coach in an interview with Cazé TV.

“I’m lucky because I have leaders in the group, which makes things much easier. They are the protagonists. It’s a pleasure to work with them; my way of leading is with a human touch. For me, being a champion is an attitude, it’s about being resilient. I believe that those who have this spirit will be rewarded sooner or later. Hard work pays off. I said after the Libertadores final that you have to lose before you can win. Stamping our group with titles helps us grow,” he added.

Abel’s Outburst

Abel also took advantage of the title to vent. He emphasized Palmeiras’ evolution since the 4-0 defeat to the same Novorizontino in the first phase of the Paulistão, and said that he “needs to prove his worth every day.”

“In this same stadium we lost 4-0, and everything that happened after is what makes someone a champion, not the number of titles. Champions are those who have the ability to be resilient not only in football, but in life. This is my 11th title here, I’ve lost five. For some, that’s not enough. I have to prove my worth every day,” he declared to HBO Max.

The state trophy also crowns Abel as the most successful coach in Verdão’s history. He has reached 11 titles, four of them in the Campeonato Paulista, surpassing Oswaldo Brandão, who had ten, and now stands alone at the top of the list.

“For me, it’s an honor to represent Palmeiras and these players. I’m just part of a chapter in the story; Palmeiras is a centenary club. This story isn’t mine, it’s ours,” he concluded.

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Palmeiras’ Next Match

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