Roger Machado's human side and São Paulo fans: is booing best? | OneFootball

Opinion by contributor Jefferson Nogueira*

Amid the pressure and the boos, it is necessary to look at something football often ignores: the human side.

Coach Roger Machado is going through a delicate moment at São Paulo. And yes, there is fair criticism: the team still does not have a clear identity, is inconsistent and, at times, the results have fallen short of expectations.

But it is also not a job without answers. There have been victories, a response in some matches, and the team won in the Copa do Brasil after beating Juventude 1-0, despite missing a flood of chances.

Now, one thing needs to be said: booing before the ball even starts rolling is counterproductive. This does not affect only the coach — it hurts the entire team, increases anxiety and makes any reaction more difficult.

Even so, Roger is not hiding. He acknowledges mistakes, respects the Tricolor supporters and made it clear after the boos: he will not give up.

And there is another important point: the change that brought Roger in, with Crespo's departure, stems from decisions by the club's board, especially Rui Costa. Roger is not to blame for this situation. He took on the problem.

In the end, he remains under pressure — for good reason — but also steadfast, trying to respond on the pitch.

* Jefferson Nogueira is a journalist and has worked since 2005 on Esporte Por Esporte, a traditional sports program in the Baixada Santista region. Creator of the YouTube channel “Football is Good and I Like It”. You can find him on Instagram, TikTok (@jeffnogueira84) and X (@jeff_nogueira84).

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