Leonino exclusive, Varandas decides Rui Borges fate if he loses to Braga | OneFootball

Rui Borges will remain in charge of Sporting even if the Lions are defeated away to Braga, Leonino has learned. Frederico Varandas does not intend to make a snap decision based on the result of Matchday 8, although the coach’s margin for error is becoming increasingly slim.

In recent weeks, Abel Ferreira, Leonardo Jardim and Sérgio Conceição have been linked with a possible succession on the Sporting bench. The first was named by ‘Correio da Manhã’ as one of the figures admired in Alvalade; Leonardo Jardim is, as our newspaper reported exclusively, the profile Frederico Varandas likes the most; meanwhile, Sérgio Conceição was thrown into the race by Nicolò Schira, despite his issues with the President.

According to what our newspaper has learned, however, the match at Pedreira does not represent any kind of ultimatum for Rui Borges. Even if Sporting lose to the Minho side, the board is not planning to immediately move forward with the coach’s departure, understanding that a change should not be determined exclusively by the result of a single match.

That does not mean Rui Borges is comfortable. The consecutive draws against Famalicão and Arouca — in addition to the one on Matchday 1 against Estrela da Amadora — have significantly increased the criticism and put the coach under pressure that did not exist at the start of the season. A defeat in Braga would worsen that scenario and leave the 45-year-old manager in a much more delicate position for the upcoming fixtures.

Frederico Varandas has already publicly come out in defense of the coach, stating on September 21 that “Rui Borges’ position was never even in question.” In May, the coach renewed his contract with Sporting until 2028, another sign of the confidence the board has placed in the project he leads.

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