Pelaipe backs Castro at Grêmio after 2-1 defeat and says 2026 will be tough | OneFootball

Grêmio’s 2-1 defeat at Mirassol, at Maião, on the Brasileirão’s resumption left the club closer to the relegation places, but Luís Castro retains the board’s support.

According to Globo.com, executive Paulo Pelaipe used the post-match press conference to back the head coach, admitting 2026 will be a demanding year and saying the club will look for solutions.

He argued that changing manager again is not the answer and accepted supporters’ frustration as results have stalled. Pelaipe said corrections are required and that the staff are working hard to improve.

Warning against scorched-earth reactions, he acknowledged a poor first half of the campaign and insisted Grêmio must live within their budget rather than spend for the sake of it. He reiterated that only work had been promised and added that everything has a remedy except death, so they will seek answers.

Scrutiny of Castro has lingered since the state title. A constant battle against the drop in the league and the need to contest the Sudamericana play-off had put his position in doubt before the World Cup break.

The board kept faith after June’s loss to Corinthians, believing extra training time could lift performances. Grêmio sit 16th on 21 points, one more than Vasco, who occupy the first relegation spot, and next visit Bolívar in La Paz in the Sudamericana play-off first leg.

Source: Globo.com