Nacional coach Tiago Margarido expressed pride and confidence in his team’s future despite a narrow 2-1 stoppage-time loss to Portuguese giants Benfica, praising their competitive display against a significantly more invested opponent.
The defeat came in the final moments of the match. Benfica is a top-tier club vying for the championship, having made substantial financial commitments to its squad. Margarido quickly congratulated his players for their effort.
He stated there are “no moral victories.” However, he highlighted his team’s spirited performance. “I have to congratulate my players, for the way they fought against an opponent that is fighting to be champion and made a brutal investment,” Margarido said.
Nacional remained competitive from the first whistle. They managed to limit Benfica’s offensive play throughout the game. The team effectively utilized counter-attacks and created significant discomfort for their formidable rivals.
Margarido views this performance as a strong foundation. He maintained “total confidence” in his squad moving forward. “We managed to create discomfort for Benfica, with the goal we created even more discomfort, and if we continue like this we will achieve our objectives,” he added. He believes consistent performance will help Nacional meet its goals.