The Portuguese winger struggled to understand the fuss surrounding the free-kick awarded to team-mate Jeronimo Neumann in their last game against Wellington Phoenix.

But he said the team had rallied around the prolific scorer  – who has notched up three from four – and put in a “normal” week at training far from the turmoil of diving allegations.

In Europe, he said, the same incident would barely raise an eyebrow.

“It’s been a normal week for us, it’s just the media has been making a big deal out of the Jeronimo situation,” Ferreira said. “But for us it’s not an issue – for the players and the staff and the club it’s a normal week.

“In Europe this is normal, it happens all the time you know. It happens and no one talks. But here it’s a big deal. But everything is finished now and we just have to be concentrated on the next games.

“(Jeronimo) is fine of course and we tried to help him out because he was a little worried at the beginning but we kept telling him everything would be fine and it is. But all the conversation and talk about this worried him which is normal.”

Ferreira came off the bench just on the hour against the Phoenix but Reds coach John Kosmina has big raps on the import lauding his “presence and speed” and ability to panic defences.

It has been far from plain sailing, however. After a stellar start to his footballing career, including four years in the Chelsea youth and Reserves teams, the 23-year-old’s career stalled. By the time the Reds came calling he was playing for Dulwich Hill in the NSW Super League.

Ferreira is one of 11 Adelaide players coming off contract at the end of the season but rather than unsettling the side he says it has made them even hungrier for success.

“We just have to do our best to get a new contract or if Kossie is not interested to get attention from the other clubs,” he said.

“I’ve been doing my best and hopefully this season will be going very good for me and the team.

“My life as a footballer has been a roller coaster – I’ve been up and down but I’m trying to get up again and that’s what I’m concentrating on.

“Fitness wise I’m very good now and I just get more confidence the more I play and now I know more of the team and they know me better.

“We’ve been playing good football – so far we’ve been fairly consistent. We’ve been good and hopefully on the weekend we can get another three points.

“Brisbane are a very good team and very strong team but last week they weren’t so good and we wish they would be like that against us.”