Varandas clarifies stance on Villas-Boas before Porto v Sporting | OneFootball

The classic match between Porto and Sporting promises intensity on the pitch, but also off it, in a context where both teams are fighting for the title point by point. The focus is on the relationship between Frederico Varandas and André Villas-Boas, marked by recent episodes of tension, the result of public exchanges of statements between the two presidents in recent months.

Despite this history, Frederico Varandas is choosing, at this final stage of preparation for the 21st round of the League, to remain silent. The President of Sporting does not intend to respond to the words of his Porto counterpart, who addressed topics such as refereeing and even suggested that the Lions are favorites for the Classic at Estádio do Dragão.

The decision is aimed at avoiding any additional noise around the match. Varandas wants to preserve a calm environment within the group led by Rui Borges, aware of the importance of the game. In this sense, he will maintain a discreet stance and follow the usual procedures.

As is customary, the President of Sporting will accompany the team at the training camp scheduled for Monday in Gaia, and will then travel with the delegation to Estádio do Dragão. At the Porto stadium, he will sit in the seat assigned to him in the stands.

It should be recalled that, in the first half of the championship, at Alvalade, Varandas and Villas-Boas sat side by side, a scenario that was also seen at the Dragão in the second half of 2024/25 and, likewise, in Leiria, in the semi-finals of that season's Allianz Cup.

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