Abel is not excited about the victory and justifies the lineup and changes: '8 years in the coaching course'

Coach Abel Ferreira is far from convinced that Palmeiras ' 2-1 victory over River Plate will bring the club closer to the Copa Libertadores semifinals. He points to next week's return leg as crucial given the late goal conceded in the first leg.

As much as the Portuguese praised the first half, in which Palmeiras dominated the action and went 2-0 up, he limited himself to saying that the match was just "an important victory".

"It's nothing more than that. We have the second half at our home," he said, and he also softened the bitter taste of the reduced lead at the end. "Our opponent created an advantage there. We had to suffer a bit, defend lower. Football has these things. We had to defend a bit more, it was normal against River Plate at their home, in a full stadium," he concluded.

Abel also backed his lineup and the changes made during the game. The coach chose Andreas Pereira in place of Facundo Torres, forming a trio with the number 8 alongside Aníbal Moreno and Lucas Evangelista.

As the match progressed, Veiga and Torres came on for Andreas and Roque. Further reducing the team, Abel opted for Bruno Fuchs in place of Lucas Evangelista. It was in the space between the defensive line and the midfield that Martínez Quarta received a free pass to reduce the deficit.

"That's my job... I understand the questions about who's a backup and who's a starter. It's part of the spectacle of discussion, of discord. It's very easy for us to be prophets of the future. It took me eight years to complete my coaching course, as if my experience as a player weren't enough. Eight years, four of theory and four of practice. I make mistakes and get things right like everyone else, but my job is to choose. And I understood that it was those two (Andreas and Evangelista) from the start," he said.

There was, however, a tone of criticism to explain River Plate's improvement in the second half. "We played a very good first half and deservedly took a 2-0 lead. In the second, our opponent changed their system, going to a 4-4-2 diamond. We lost some of our midfielder's touch on the right flank. The players who should have come off at Acuña weren't the ones who should have. When they did come off, they came on late," he lamented.

The return leg will be next Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. at Allianz Parque. Before that, Palmeiras will play in the Brasileirão on Saturday at 9 p.m. against Fortaleza in São Paulo. On the same day, River Plate will visit Atlético Tucumán at 9:15 p.m. in the Argentine Championship.