Will César Farías be the new manager of Santa Fe? This is what the club president, Eduardo Méndez, says.

The atmosphere in Santa Fe was shaken up this Thursday, when, according to press reports, the arrival of Venezuelan César Farías as the new coach of the professional team was confirmed .

The Colombian champion has yet to find a permanent manager after the surprising departure of Uruguayan Jorge Bava, who terminated his contract and accepted an offer from Cerro Porteño of Paraguay.

EL TIEMPO contacted Santa Fe's president, Eduardo Méndez, about the rumors of an imminent agreement with Farías . "I spoke with him. I haven't made any agreement," he replied emphatically.

"I spoke with him, just as I've spoken with about four other coaches," insisted the director, who had already taken a similar approach in the first half of the year when he chose Bava to replace Pablo Peirano, who left after the team's elimination in the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores. At that time, Francisco López managed the team for seven matches until the permanent coach arrived.

Now, López, who is also the club's sporting director, has been in charge of the team for six games while Santa Fe takes its time to choose a coach, thinking about the end of the year, but also about returning to the Copa Libertadores group stage in 2026.

Santa Fe is outside the top eight: not counting the match that Boyacá Chicó and América de Cali play this Thursday, the Colombian champion is in ninth place in the tournament, with 25 points, one point behind eighth place, Alianza Valledupar.

The club is confident of winning its two remaining matches, both at El Campín, to secure qualification for the second half of the season's playoffs. On Sunday, they will face Deportivo Cali, who have already been eliminated, and on the final matchday, at a time to be determined, they will have a direct clash against the team from Valledupar.