Tiago Margarido: FC Porto are the strongest side in the league | OneFootball

Nacional will host FC Porto tomorrow at Estádio da Madeira (3:30 PM), in the 22nd round of the Liga Betclic. The team led by Tiago Margarido drew in the last round at home against Casa Pia, while the dragons recorded a draw at Dragão against Sporting. The black-and-white coach states he is prepared for any lineup that Francesco Farioli chooses and, regarding favoritism, he is categorical: “The favoritism is entirely on the side of the league leader, who is fighting for completely different objectives than ours. They are the strongest team in the league, and the standings prove it. As such, the favoritism is all on FC Porto's side. We know our capabilities, our strengths, and we believe we can achieve a positive result. The favoritism cannot shift to our side.”

“FC Porto will not come weakened”

Tiago Margarido does not foresee any ease from the northerners, recalling the defeat of the Porto club last season in Madeira: “FC Porto already had the experience last season, with a less fortunate game here in Madeira. I believe, I am absolutely certain that they will not ease up at all. The fact that they are not coming from two very good results does not reflect what the season has been so far, as they are the strongest team in the league. The standings prove it, so I do not believe that FC Porto will come weakened by anything.”

With the absences of Léo Santos (suspended) and Gabriel Veron (unable to play as he is on loan), Margarido assures that Nacional will maintain its identity: “We will necessarily have to make player changes, because we have Léo suspended and Gabriel Veron cannot play this game as he is on loan. But regarding our game matrix, we will maintain our principles and try to put them into practice. Obviously, we know that at certain moments in the game this will not be possible. We will also have the ability to endure when the game dictates, but whenever possible we will put into practice what is our game, what we believe in and what we have been doing since the 1st round.”

This week has elevated the motivation of the Nacional squad: “These are weeks that are highly motivating for the players, as everyone wants to play against the biggest teams in their league. It becomes easy for us, as coaches, to motivate the players for this type of game. As I said recently, we had excellent performances both in Alvalade, here at home with Benfica, or at Estádio do Dragão, and that alone already shows the extra motivation with which the players face this type of game. I think it will not be an exception. We will be motivated, we will be very confident in our ability, knowing in advance that we will have a very strong opponent ahead of us whom we respect a lot, but we also have to trust in our capabilities.”

Regarding the possible use of William Gomes – whose two-game suspension was reduced and who served one game after FC Porto's appeal – Margarido preferred not to comment on the disciplinary decision and only said that he prepared the match considering that possibility: “I have nothing to do with that situation. I have to prepare the game considering William Gomes, who is indeed a player who adds a lot to the team, with much variability. We had to prepare for his presence a bit on the fly, because I think that decision came out yesterday. It is not up to me to evaluate anything. As a coach, what I can say is that I had to prepare a bit on the fly for the possibility of William being able to play.”

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