Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira has come out to blast the media for criticising Estevao Willian ahead of his much-awaited move to Chelsea this summer. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.
According to him, it is obvious that the media needs to show more empathy towards the naive talent, especially when the youngster has already won 2 man of the match awards at the Club World Cup tournament.
Abel added that it is so sad how criticism is what the press sells nowadays, even when their victim is still a teenager.
His words, “I have nothing more to say [about Estevao’s performance]. It was you who chose [to give the man of the match award to him in the first two matches], not me. I don’t know what you want. I think it’s perfectly normal [what Estevao said]. Do you know what the difference is between a human being and an animal? It’s feelings and emotions. It’s normal, in this type of game, for us to be more nervous, anxious. It’s normal for a kid who had a dream and is seeing that dream come true.
What he’s feeling is normal. And the kid, who is already 18 years old, naive, said what he felt. Because what he’s feeling is normal. And a good part of you [the media], the fans, is this what you do with the players here? Top players, who played in Brazil and abroad. They’re going to talk about what the media does here with the players and coaches. Listen. It’s not what Abel says. These are top players and coaches. Willian, who played for Corinthians, for example. But I understand. That’s what sells. The blood, the criticism, sells more. That’s right. That’s what sells today. And we all make money one way, or you make money another way.”
WOW.
Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, West London. Founded in 1905, they play their home games at Stamford Bridge.
The club competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football. They won their first major honour, the League championship, in 1955. The club won the FA Cup for the first time in 1970, their first European honour, the Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1971, and became the third English club to win the Club World Cup in 2022.
On 7 May 2022, Chelsea confirmed that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss, to acquire the club. The group was later known as BlueCo.
The UK government approved the £4.25bn takeover, ending Abramovich’s 19-year ownership of the club. Bruce Buck, who served as chairman since 2003, was replaced by Boehly, while long-serving club director and de facto sporting director Marina Granovskaia left, as did Petr Čech from the role of technical and performance advisor.
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