Paredes backs Úbeda at Boca, compares him to Scaloni: "Similar bond" | OneFootball

While at Boca the possibility has begun to circulate that Claudio Úbeda could continue as coach in 2026—or at least that he is in the running as a candidate—the most influential voice in the squad has given him a key endorsement looking to the future: Leandro Paredes. “We are happy because he is doing very well,” declared the Xeneize captain.

Among the most notable topics addressed by the World Cup-winning midfielder during the open training session for the press in Ezeiza was precisely the current state of the team under Sifón’s leadership, who took charge as Miguel Ángel Russo’s successor after his painful passing on October 9th.

Paredes, having assumed a leadership role as soon as he put on the blue and gold shirt again in the second half of the season, took a clear stance, fully backed Úbeda, and even drew a parallel with Lionel Scaloni: “He is leading a group forward, a group of people as well, because he is very close to the players. We have a relationship similar to the one with Lionel, and hopefully the results will be similar to those we had with the national team.”

But such high praise for the inexperienced coach, who has been lifting this Boca side and already secured them a spot in the Copa Libertadores, didn’t end there: the 31-year-old midfielder went even further and deepened that comparison on the footballing side as well. “It’s very similar to what Lionel asks of us in the national team, because he asks us to play, to be ourselves, and when we lose the ball, to roll up our sleeves and work, to recover it,” he added.

With the support of the squad, the backing of the board, and the momentum from recent victories, Úbeda has gone from interim to being the main candidate to lead Boca in their return to the Copa Libertadores in 2026. Although the club is opting for caution, the truth is that internally the possibility of offering him a contract renewal is being strongly considered. And now more than ever, after Paredes’ statements.

What is known about the chance of Úbeda being Boca’s coach in 2026

The board is very satisfied with how Úbeda took on the team’s leadership after Russo’s death, accompanied by Juvenal Rodríguez as his right-hand man, and with the way he manages the day-to-day. His working style, aligned with and continuing the foundation laid by Miguelo, is highly valued in La Ribera, even by the players themselves.

Once the end of December arrives, and after evaluating the cycle, Riquelme will make a decision: to continue the project with Úbeda or look for a new coach. The possibility exists, Úbeda is in the running.

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