Azevedo blocks Conceição at Sporting: “Varandas lacks headspace” | OneFootball

Rogério Azevedo played down the possibility of Sérgio Conceição taking over as Sporting’s head coach if Rui Borges leaves Alvalade. The ‘A BOLA’ journalist stressed that it is one thing for the coach to be available and quite another for there to be genuine interest from the Lions’ hierarchy.

“What we know, and I haven’t spoken to him directly to find out, is what is public: Sérgio Conceição is available. I can come up with 10 names who are available, one of them is here talking to us right now: Luís Figueiredo. Many more would be available to coach Sporting; another matter entirely is whether Sporting are thinking about him,” he began.

Rogério Azevedo nevertheless admitted a hypothetical scenario in which Frederico Varandas might set past conflicts aside. “Let us imagine that Sporting, or Frederico Varandas, remotely considered Sérgio Conceição. We know that Frederico Varandas and Sérgio Conceição have some division between them because of successive things that happened.”

The journalist continued: “If Frederico Varandas were to think, ‘Let’s forget about that,’ and focus only on whether Sérgio Conceição is the ideal coach, in the event of a replacement, to coach Sporting. If he thinks he is, then he has to put aside the friction and conflicts he has with him and move forward with it.”

Even so, Rogério Azevedo appeared unconvinced that such a step could happen. “I don’t think Frederico Varandas has that mental willingness to make peace with someone with whom he has already had several problems. I understand why we are here talking about Sérgio Conceição, because Conceição has one specific friend in certain media outlets who plays this role.”

The journalist also recalled that the coach’s name has been linked with different jobs whenever there are managers under pressure. “Sérgio Conceição has already been put on the table when Bruno Lage was on the ropes, when Mourinho was on the ropes, when Rui Borges is on the ropes. The national team as well”.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.