Borja Jiménez sat down with journalists ahead of Saturday’s match against Málaga at La Rosaleda (9:00 PM). However, his appearance at Mareo was primarily used to explain his decision to remain as Sporting’s head coach next season, as outlined in his contract.
**Explanation:**
“I believe it’s a thoughtful decision, consistent with myself. You have to be honest and sincere. I think you need to be 100% convinced — not just because something is signed. I communicated this to the club a few weeks ago, and I must thank Pepe (Riestra) and the club for understanding and comprehending what I was proposing.”
**Message to the Fans:**
“It’s not a matter of deserving more or less sincerity. I’ve always been very open with them. This comes from personal conviction for various reasons. I insist on how beautiful it has been and the pride I feel for having been Sporting’s coach — the experiences in stadiums like León with La Mareona. I understand that some fans may not grasp the decision. We’ve reached a mutual agreement. The most positive thing is that we can go our separate ways, and I hope the decisions we’ve made are the best for Sporting.”
**No Specific Cause:**
“It’s a measured decision, consistent with myself, not because of anything I’ve seen. I believe the club is working along good lines to build an ambitious project and return to La Liga.”
**Approaches from Other Clubs:**
“I have nothing signed, no proposals. Until this morning, nobody knew anything about this. We tried to keep it as secret as possible. I only told my family last night. I don’t believe there’s anything close. I want to keep coaching, and I hope I can.”
**The News in the Locker Room:**
“I imagine it was a surprise, just like for you and everyone else. It’s something we’ve thought through and handled with all parties to minimize the impact. For the players, it was unexpected. They are a great group, exceptional guys. I have a lot of affection for them. I’ve communicated that, and I hope we can win games and finish as high as possible — that’s the most important thing.”
**Differences in the New Project:**
“No. It’s impossible to see something that is just beginning to take shape. Don’t try to link my departure to the club’s future. The club is working to do better and return to La Liga. Foundations are being laid, and I believe it will go well. I wish it from the bottom of my heart. I trust the people in charge to improve things. This is the honesty with which I understand this profession — sincerity and transparency.”
**The Timing:**
“It’s a decision made with the club. They believed it was the best moment to announce it and to build for the future. We’ve carried it out.”
**The End of the Season:**
“Everything will weigh a bit. When we arrived, the situation was very complex — close to relegation spots — and we turned it around quickly. With eight weeks left, we had real chances to fight for more, but we didn’t manage it. Many things influence, but I couldn’t assign percentages. That honesty — not clinging to a contract or written document — is rare, but I believed it was best for all parties.”
**Similar to the Leganés Situation:**
“Last year, when I left Leganés, I didn’t have a contract either, and people asked me similar questions. I insist a lot on honesty. I understand you may not comprehend, but there’s nothing else. It’s time to make decisions based on what I think is best for me and for Sporting. No trigger, no conflict. I insist on understanding.”
**Change of Opinion?**
“People may think my stance has changed, but it hasn’t. I’ve always been consistent. This decision is the result of deep reflection, not a sudden shift.”
