Palmeiras back Scolari

A loss in the quarter-finals of the state tournament has increased pressure to sack the veteran trainer, but the Verdao want him to stay until the end of 2012.Palmeiras vice-president Roberto Frizzo has backed Luiz Felipe Scolari to stay at the Sao Paulo giants, despite mounting pressure to remove the World Cup winning coach following Sunday's Paulista Championship defeat at the hands of Guarani. The Verdao slumped to a 3-2 reverse against the Serie B side, who knocked Scolari's men out of the state competition at the quarter-final stage. Felipao took over at the Pacaembu in 2010, and is yet to win a single piece of silverware at the club.Lance reports that Palmeiras president Arnaldo Tirone has been bombarded with fans' messages calling for the trainer's removal, but Frizzo insisted that there would be no knee-jerk reactions to elimination."Felipao is a brilliant coach, he is competent, he works well and we can still achieve some excellent results this year," the official explained following the game."He will be with us until at least the end of the year."Scolari, meanwhile, reasserted his commitment to the club."Every day presents a new challenge in Palmeiras. You have to learn how to live with it. My project will not change, but what could change is the directors' thoughts," the former Chelsea and Brazil coach explained."Palmeiras have a president and they have directors, and if they believe that it is good to carry on the same work then I will stay."Felipao is currently in his second spell with Palmeiras. He coached the Verdao for three years between 1997 and 2000, lifting four titles including the club's first ever Copa Libertadores trophy in 1999.