Felipe Melo, a former Palmeiras player and commentator, has criticised coach Abel Ferreira, stating that the club is "much bigger" than him. This response comes after Ferreira's comments following the team's draw with Botafogo, in which he said: "Aproveitem e desfrutem, que nunca em um espaço de tempo tão curto o Palmeiras festejou tanto como nos últimos quatro a cinco anos" ("Enjoy and make the most of it, as Palmeiras has never celebrated as much in such a short period of time as it has in the last four to five years").
Melo pointed out that the team had been competing for titles for the last 10 years, and that Ferreira's arrival in October 2020 had not been the starting point of the team's hegemony. The Palmeiras team has a rich history of success, having won several titles in the past, including the Copa do Brasil in 2015, and the Brasileiro in 2016 and 2018.
Ferreira has led the team to several titles since his appointment, including the Brasileiro in 2022 and 2023, and the Copa do Brasil in 2020. The Palmeiras team will next face Flamengo in a crucial match.