Palmeiras faces scrutiny over Abel Ferreira's leadership and tactical approach

Palmeiras is facing increased scrutiny from fans regarding the performance and leadership of manager Abel Ferreira. Amidst recent demands for better results, club president Leila Pereira has visited team training to offer support to Ferreira while signaling expectations for more proactive play and tactical precision.

Critics have noted a shift in the club's internal culture, pointing to the replacement of traditional motivational imagery in locker rooms with generic, corporate-style motivational phrases. This shift has been described by some as a sterile, ‘AI-driven’ discourse that lacks the passion traditionally associated with football.

Despite Ferreira's trophy successes, his tenure has also been marked by significant setbacks. Notable disappointments include the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Qatar, where Palmeiras finished in fourth place—the worst result for a Brazilian club in the tournament's history—following a semifinal loss to Tigres and a penalty shootout defeat to Al Ahly.