Girotto recalls 2015 Copa do Brasil win: ‘A deafening roar’

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Nosso Palestra

·2 dicembre 2025

Girotto recalls 2015 Copa do Brasil win: ‘A deafening roar’

Ten years after winning the 2015 Copa do Brasil, Andrei Girotto revisits the season that marked the rebuilding of Palmeiras and paved the way for the era of glory the club enjoys today.

In an interview with NOSSO PALESTRA, the player talked about the challenges of a forming squad, the historic goal against Internacional, and the journey that led him to establish himself as a defender in international football.

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A new Palmeiras in 2015

It was a reconstruction, many new players, no one knew each other. A locker room without a backbone makes the team somewhat without identity. And that year, we sought to find this identity, to create the identity that Palmeiras has today. Now, of course, with many years of Abel, it's easier for him to impose this on the squad.

For Girotto, the team was still seeking balance and personality, but the beginning of that new phase would be crucial:

– It was very difficult, as no one knew each other, and we were in formation. But I believe we had a great year. We reached the Paulista final, in the Brasileirão it wasn't what Palmeiras deserves, and the Copa do Brasil, where we had more chances, revived the Palmeiras fan spirit of being a cup team. This title was important. – he said

The decisive goal against Inter

The match against Internacional at Allianz Parque remains vivid in the player's and fans' memories. Andrei Girotto was responsible for the goal that secured Alviverde's qualification that day.

I still receive messages today, 10 years later. Fans still remember it today, they tell me it was one of the most celebrated, I will never forget that vibration in the arena. A deafening noise, a celebration by everyone that I remember to this day, but it was a mix of emotions, we were about to be eliminated with those two goals from Inter, a difficult feeling, trying to get a result during the match when you were already ahead. Right after conceding the goal, we scored, and that didn't let us get discouraged. We managed to score that goal right after and get back on track for qualification.

Watch the full interview:

A tough campaign against big clubs

We were always advancing by the skin of our teeth, with tough matches, and that strengthens the team. We reached a point where we said, 'after we got through this phase, it's meant to be champions,' like after the quarterfinals, we said the title had to be ours. It's good for strengthening the group with tough matches, comebacks like this. So we arrived with a strong mentality in the final, and with Santos in our throats, we had to beat them, and thank God we won this Copa do Brasil.

From the semifinal to the final: total focus

Girotto describes the feeling of being the "team of destiny." The defeat to Santos in the Paulistão increased the focus for the rematch.

Moments went by, and we said, 'it's meant to be us,' and after their missed goal (in the first match), we said it would make a difference, very unlikely in football, and it ended up making the difference. We were emotionally very strong, all players were focused on giving the title to the fans, especially against Santos. We were very focused for this final.

The fans' celebration

Andrei Girotto highlighted the Palmeiras fans' celebration before the big final against Santos at Allianz Parque on December 2, 2015.

I think right from leaving the hotel, we felt it, recently in the Libertadores final, it reminded me of this image of the fans already supporting us on the way to the stadium. The atmosphere created inside the stadium, a different feeling, just like after the goal I felt, it was 90 minutes like that. It makes a big difference for the player who is there.

Time at Palmeiras

– I am grateful for my time at Palmeiras and know I could have done much more. I had a difficult start due to a lack of opportunities, I wasn't registered for the Paulistão and then had a sequence without games, I am very grateful to Marcelo Oliveira for believing in me. In many moments of the season, I wasn't 100%, everyone saw it in my move to Japan and return to Chapecoense, I performed much better than I did at Palmeiras and then in the six years at Nantes that I could achieve. A feeling that I could have written my name a bit more in the club's history. A taste of wanting more. But I'm happy, for many years Palmeiras wasn't doing well, and I'm happy to be part of the club's turning point. – he said.

The current moment in his career

Currently at Al-Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, Andrei Girotto stood out at Nantes in France, where he established himself as a defender.

Then I went to Japan, went to Chapecoense, and soon after was sold to Nantes in France, six years of good seasons, I was champion of the Coupe de France, but the main point was the change from midfielder to defender, today I consider myself only a defender. I'm happy that the coach suggested changing positions, to fit the scheme, and I adapted very well and still play as a defender, making a name in history by being a champion there and in Arabia too, three years now, today we are in third place, even against clubs with big investments like Al Hilal, Al Nassr.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

Atlético-MG vs. Palmeiras – Campeonato Brasileiro – 12/03 – 9:30 PM (Brasília time)
Ceará vs. Palmeiras – Campeonato Brasileiro – 12/07 – 4:00 PM (Brasília time)

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