Inside story: despite support, Roger opposed Independente's CT meeting | OneFootball

Nothing is so bad that it can’t get worse. At least in the current São Paulo. That’s the takeaway from the internal repercussions learned by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR after the meeting with the leadership of Independente, the club’s main organized supporters’ group, with the players at the Barra Funda training center on Monday afternoon (20).

The general feeling is that the episode made the atmosphere even more unstable. On one side, the players and football manager Rafinha, who authorized the supporters’ entry, described the conversation as positive. On the other, executive Rui Costa and head coach Roger Machado felt it was unnecessary.

While Costa refused to speak because he knew Independente had already called for his head at the training center gate, in a quick encounter with president Harry Massis Júnior, Roger felt he had not been properly consulted and ended up even more exposed. That was the case even though he was, to some extent, spared from criticism.

To some extent, because Roger and members of the coaching staff were ultimately instructed to speak with the supporters. The exchange was quick, very brief, but hardly encouraging. Despite being somewhat spared, Roger heard that, in the organized supporters’ view, he did not have enough ability to coach São Paulo and that they would prefer someone else in the role.

According to sources consulted by the report, Roger was not pleased with the situation at all. He told Rafinha that the contact should have taken place after tonight’s Copa do Brasil match against Juventude and that the extra pressure could hurt concentration. But to other members of the coaching staff, the assessment was that the message sent was that he is not protected by the club.

“He became even more uncomfortable. It was clear,” one person heard by AMT said. “I honestly don’t know if he’ll be able to stay much longer. The feeling is of a labyrinth with no way out.”

São Paulo’s instability will have a path toward a solution after tonight’s match. It seems certain that Rui Costa and Roger will lose their jobs if there is a stumble against the team from Rio Grande do Sul, which plays in Série B.

“INDEPENDENTE IS HERE”

Monday (20) at São Paulo was a busy one, with a visit from a small group of members of Torcida Independente, the club’s main organized supporters’ group, in the morning at the Barra Funda training center.

The supporters first stopped president Harry Massis in his car at the entrance and especially demanded the departure of executive Rui Costa. Then, with Rafinha’s authorization, they spoke with him and all the first-team players inside the training center in Barra Funda.

The talk lasted around 40 minutes, and the sides made a “pact” for greater commitment from the players and improved team performance on the field. The tone of the conversation was the same as the one used with president Massis, in a way absolving coach Roger of blame and reinforcing the demand for executive Rui Costa to leave the club.

Later in the afternoon, Henrique Gomes, known as Baby, the main leader of Independente, confirmed the pact that had been made and the direction of the supporters’ demands in a post on his social media.

Read it in full:

“LAST CALL: Pact sealed until the World Cup break! It is essential that we remain alive in all three competitions and fighting for something more!

The work has to be done during this one-month period to recover players and seek targeted signings so that we can finish 2026 with dignity! The supporters will always be right! And when there is pressure from the supporters, it is because they believe and trust that together we can change history.

Before asking for the dismissal of coach Roger Machado, we have to go after the real culprits!!! Every year it’s the same story, the coach-grinding machine shields unqualified directors who stain our history!!! Rui Costa out – you are the real culprit!!!

We hope Massis takes action and shows that he too has chosen to save the club from the hands of these draculas who have sucked our club dry. Tomorrow, once again, we will do our part and we hope that those of you in the numbered seats, the terraces, the reserved seats, and the boxes do yours as well.

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