Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has confirmed that coach Rui Borges will remain in charge of the club despite the team dropping six points in recent Portuguese Primeira Liga fixtures.
Speaking on arrival at the Portugal Football Globes gala at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, Varandas rejected rumors of internal tension, stating that the board of directors of Sporting SAD had held no emergency meeting to discuss the manager's future.
The gala was organized by the Portuguese Football Federation at its national training headquarters outside Lisbon. Sporting SAD, the corporate entity controlling the club's professional football operations, continues to back the coaching staff.
Varandas expressed complete confidence in Borges following two consecutive league draws, which saw Sporting held to a 1-1 outcome away at Famalicao and a 2-2 result at home against Arouca.
The Lisbon side currently occupy third place in the Primeira Liga standings with 15 points, level with Santa Clara. They trail league leaders FC Porto, who have 21 points, and second-placed Benfica on 16 points.
Board backing and fan criticism
Addressing supporter frustration, Varandas said that criticism is an inevitable part of modern football and that anyone unwilling to cope with pressure is in the wrong profession. He noted that supporters have every right to feel disappointed by recent results and to change their opinions over time, but emphasized that public criticism does not influence board decisions.
Reviewing the team's three draws this season, Varandas argued that Sporting were the superior team in the first two matches before conceding two late own goals from just two opposition shots. In the third draw, he stated that Sporting dominated until the 55th minute, when a player received a justified red card.
Varandas questioned whether any club president would dismiss a manager at the seventh round of the season after three such fixtures, insisting that he had no intention of sacking Borges. He also pointed to the previous trophies and records achieved by the coach during his tenure with the club.
The president affirmed that Borges' continuity is built on trust in the overall process and the style of play. He highlighted that the club is carrying out a major squad restructuring, resulting in one of the youngest squads in Sporting history.
Injury updates and squad depth
Varandas also provided details regarding central defender Ibrahima Ba, who was brought in with the expectation of being match fit by September. The club faced a defensive shortage following an injury to influential center-back Ousmane Diomande.
Due to team necessity, Ba was required to return earlier than initially planned despite the physical risk involved. Varandas explained that if recovery stays on track, the defender should be available for Sporting's first match following the international break.
Looking ahead, Varandas expressed confidence that Sporting will achieve their primary objectives for the season, which include competing for domestic titles and securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Response to rival clubs
Varandas concluded his statement by praising Borges for his media conduct following recent set-backs. He noted that it would have been easy for his manager to rely on external excuses during press conferences, as other coaches and public figures frequently do in Portuguese football. Varandas commended Borges for avoiding such behavior, adding that maintaining dignity represents the correct path for the sport.
