Abel says he feared Del Valle’s ‘KO’, but praises Palmeiras: ‘In the 12th round, we knocked out’

The turn of the Palm trees over Independiente Del Valle 3-2, this Wednesday (24), at the Banco Guayaquil stadium, in Quito, Ecuador, can be divided into three chapters: the difficulty in deciding the line-up, the immense pressure from the rival at the beginning of the game and the reasons for the heroic transformation of the alviverde, which made coach Abel Ferreira appear relieved after, as he himself stated, seeing the team go to the ropes and fearing a knockout.

“It was very difficult for me to choose the 11 who would start the game today. Perhaps, since I’ve been at the club, it was the time that I spent the longest time there who I was going to bring in or choose from the start”, said the coach, who revealed that he had a meeting with the technical committee the night before the match to decide whether to join. with the most experienced players – and worn out by the sequence – or with the club’s young promises.

By opting to choose the most experienced, Abel Ferreira saw Independiente Del Valle corner the team in the first half, scoring two goals with Kendry Paéz and Hoyos.

“Independiente Del Valle, in the opening 30, 35 minutes, had us close to the ropes. I thought I was going to get knocked out here, but we were able to hold on and wait for our moment. In the twelfth round, we managed to knock out our opponent”, said the coach, who showed clear satisfaction with the team’s turnaround.

“It’s not the first time our team has turned a game around. This team will go all the way. It’s great to be in this group. It’s not the first time that happens. But I’m unlikely to experience that again,” he added.

The big change was the team’s posture in the second half with a tactical adjustment on the left side of the defense to block the attacks of Kendry Páez, a young man of just 16 years old who has already been sold to Chelsea. Abel Ferreira started to invest in the defense of the sector with four players and managed to further neutralize his rival.

Furthermore, the additions of Estêvão, Lázaro and Luis Guilherme, in addition to Flaco López, renewed the team’s momentum, and they managed to turn the score around in the 49th minute of the second half with Luis Guilherme. Before, Endrick and Lázaro had initiated the reaction.

The result achieved at an altitude of 2,500 meters allows Palmeiras to isolate themselves in first place in group F, with seven points. The rivals in the match have four points, in second place.

Stronger than it already is, Palmeiras now begins preparations for the classic against São Paulo, next Monday (29), at 8pm (Brasília time), at the MorumBis stadium, for the fourth round of Series A of the Brazilian Championship .

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