With the interruption of the Brazilian football calendar for the World Cup, Series A clubs granted a period of recess to their athletes and technical committees. In this scenario, Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira took the idea of deep rest seriously.
The Portuguese coach, who returned to Europe to spend this time with his family, adopted a state of “total refuge”, even moving away from people in his professional circle who support him in organizing his career throughout the year.
Several sources close to Abel Ferreira told the reporter how intense his vacation period was, with statements such as “I can’t even talk to him” and the statement that “he said he just wanted peace and quiet and to hear the birds singing”.
It was found that Abel dedicated himself “200%” to his wife, his two daughters and his favorite hobbies, such as his car collection and motorsport. One of the sources highlighted that, due to the lack of time during the season, the coach feels a lack of moments to enjoy, and that is why he was “very disconnected” during this period.
Without large public appearances or interviews during the holidays, Abel had a rare moment in Portugal in this final phase of rest. The Palmeiras commander was invited by the Lousada City Council to participate in an initiative aimed at children and teenagers.
To extend his time in Portugal, Abel received authorization to perform later than the Palmeiras squad after the break.
The alviverde team had already resumed its activities at the Football Academy in the previous days, but still without the presence of the coach.
The club’s assessment was that, in this initial stage of the return, in which players are subjected to intense medical and physical assessments, Abel’s participation would make little practical difference.
The coach’s return to activities at the Football Academy is expected to happen soon.
The need for a few days off for Abel reflects the intensity of Palmeiras’ calendar so far. The team’s last match in 2025 was on December 7th, and, due to the World Cup and the anticipation of the dates, the team returned to the field on January 10th for the Campeonato Paulista.
From the start of the pre-season, on January 4th, until May 31st, the date of the last match before the break, there were 147 days, with only nine days off. The month of April, in particular, demonstrated the team’s exhaustion, with nine games, six wins and three draws, without the squad having even a day of rest.
Current São Paulo champion, isolated leader of the Brazilian Championship and already qualified for the round of 16 of the Conmebol Libertadores and Copa do Brasil, Palmeiras will return to the field on July 23, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), against Coritiba, in a game valid for the 19th round of the Brasileirão, away from home.