With Aníbal’s arrival, however, he needed to return to acting more like an 8 than a 5, as Abel likes to say. At Paulista, the solution was to place him a little further to the left. It wasn’t the same thing. It is true that we can factor in time for readjustment, the expectation generated by a brilliant 2023, low back pain and many other elements that are always present in football. But the truth is that Zé Rafael did not perform as expected.
Another who was moved to the left in the last few matches and didn’t give what the team needed is Raphael Veiga. In addition to also needing to coordinate with Aníbal’s rises, the midfielder was also moved to give more space for Endrick to play wide on the right, who also needs to get along with Flaco, who is more centralized. Zé Rafael’s absence in the last few matches also moves him further to the left.
Abel said he is tired and worn out. This may be part of the equation that deprived Veiga of his maximum potential, but changing the game also requires time to adapt. Endrick’s ownership, in fact, was a solution that clearly worked at the end of last year, in the push towards the Brasileirão title, but which is still not 100% fit for Palmeiras in 2024.
Against Santos and Novorizontino, the Portuguese coach admitted that he was not at his best as a coach, mentioning that he asked some of his players for special roles, including Raphael Veiga. But so far he doesn’t seem to have found the answer to that.
There are solutions that are presented to those who are not involved in everyday life, such as the entries by Luís Guilherme and Rômulo. The first has been used more on the wings, but can play as a number 10 as he has already shown in the youth categories. The second still needs time to adapt, but he did a great Paulistão like Novorizontino, even playing more on the left.
Tags: Solutions problems put Abel crossroads
