Aiming for "discreet" upkeep in the I Liga, the national coach expresses his aspirations.
Tiago Margarido, the coach of Portuguese football club Nacional, is preparing for his third consecutive season at the helm, with a focus on improving the team's performance in the upcoming 2025/26 I Liga season.
Margarido has defined around 70 to 80% of the team's starting lineup for the new season, aiming to make significant squad changes to address past deficiencies, particularly in the attack. He plans to make at least five cuts from the squad to enhance efficiency [1][2].
The club has already secured 17 reinforcements for the new season, including the signing of Igor Liziero, a former São Paulo midfielder, on a three-year deal, strengthening the midfield for the upcoming campaign [3]. Additionally, Tiago Filipe, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, has been promoted from the youth ranks to the senior team, adding fresh talent in goal [4].
Potential departures from the team during this transfer window include at least five unnamed players who will be cut as part of a broader squad reshaping effort by Margarido [1]. The exact identities of these players have not been disclosed.
Margarido expressed optimism about the team becoming more effective in the 2025/26 season, particularly through an improved offensive lineup [2]. This positive outlook indicates a proactive approach from the coach as he aims for better performance in the I Liga campaign.
The final preparation match for the new season for Nacional will be against Marítimo on Sunday. The friendly match will take place at the stadium of Marítimo's second team at 5:00 PM [5].
The debut match for Nacional in the 2025/26 I Liga is against Gil Vicente on August 9. The first round match will take place at the Madeira Stadium in Funchal at 3:30 PM [6].
Many main players from the team may leave and head to other destinations during this transfer window. However, Margarido is satisfied with the commitment and evolution of the athletes and the team, with the new players responding positively to what has been asked during pre-season [7].
References: [1] "Tiago Margarido: 'Tem que haver saídas para haver entradas'." A Bola, 2025. [2] "Tiago Margarido: 'Aqui é um projeto que vai além da temporada'." Record, 2025. [3] "Nacional anuncia a contratação de Igor Liziero." SIC Notícias, 2025. [4] "Nacional promove Tiago Filipe para o time principal." Jornal de Madeira, 2025. [5] "Nacional joga amistoso contra Marítimo no domingo." Jornal de Madeira, 2025. [6] "Nacional enfrenta Gil Vicente no primeiro jogo da I Liga." A Bola, 2025. [7] "Tiago Margarido: 'Os novos jogadores estão se adaptando bem'." Record, 2025.
Tiago Margarido seeks to improve Nacional's attacking performance in the upcoming European football leagues, particularly in the 2025/26 I Liga season, following a perceived deficiency in past seasons. To achieve this, he plans to make at least five cuts from the squad and has secured 17 reinforcements, including Igor Liziero and Tiago Filipe, to enhance the team's efficiency.
