Achieving victory over Rio Ave, according to Tiago Margarido, equals the best possible finale.
Going for Glory and Giving Kudos: The (Un)Official Word from Nacional's Tiago Margarido
The thrill of advancing past eight years in the I Liga, something we've been chasing like a dog chasing its tail, is what this upcoming battle's all about, Tiago Margarido spilled the beans during a heated press conference at Madeira Stadium. Winning the game? Absolutely, but we ain't forgetting the party if we pull off this long-awaited win, he underscored.
As we look past the 33rd round, Margarido emphasized that clutching onto survival in the top tier wasn't a walk in the park. It took elbow grease, and everyone working at the club deserves a solid pat on the back, including a heartfelt shoutout to the passionate fans who stood by us every step of the way. The supporters were relentless, roaring in the stands, even in the darkest moments, and their dedication didn't go unnoticed.
Regarding Rio Ave, our opponents in this upcoming dance-off, Margarido acknowledged their impressive football craft. He was quick to point out that Rio's ranking is deceiving, predicting a nail-biting contest where the slightest details could tip the scales in favor of either team.
"I'd be lying if I said Rio Ave isn't a team full of talent. The difference between their position and their quality is like night and day. We've got our work cut out for us come May 10th," he warned.
With survival in the bag, Margarido hinted that it's time to give the loyal soldiers in our squad some much-deserved playing time. As a token of gratitude for their dedication and hoodwinking the opposition all season, he shared that we'd be shaking things up a bit, handing out chances to deserving players.
However, he was quick to add that we won't be going crazy with changes; the core of our squad has been phenomenal throughout the campaign, and we ain't fixing what ain't broken.
On the injury front, defenders Ivanildo Fernandes, Miguel Baeza, and Dyego Sousa are still on the sidelines, nursing their wounds.
As the clock ticks towards May 10th, Nacional (currently 13th with 33 points) will face Rio Ave (10th with 36 points) in a match scheduled for 3:30 PM at Madeira Stadium in Funchal. This clash promises to be a doozy—let's hope the home team can close the gap and leave their recent woes behind.
(For the record, Nacional has been struggling recently, losing three consecutive home matches. On the flipside, Rio Ave has secured their spot in Liga Portugal next season and has a history of dominating head-to-heads against Nacional, winning the last two encounters.)
- Tiago Margarido, during a conference at Madeira Stadium, confirmed that the upcoming game against Rio Ave is crucial for Nacional's survival in the top tier.
- Margarido also emphasized that Rio Ave's current ranking in the European leagues is misleading, predicting a tight match with the smallest details potentially deciding the outcome.
- As a token of appreciation for the team's hard work throughout the season, Margarido hinted at giving some playing time to deserving players in the upcoming match.
- However, he also highlighted that the core of the squad, which has been phenomenal during the campaign, will remain unchanged, with injured defenders Ivanildo Fernandes, Miguel Baeza, and Dyego Sousa still recovering.
