After Portugal, VfB has become my second home.
What made you choose VfB again?
Tiago: “I always kept in contact with Sebastian Hoeneß. VfB just feels right for me – back then and now once again. I hope that I’ll grow and develop now as quickly as the club has. The conditions here are ideal for me. I’ve got everything I need and I’m working every day to be the best version of myself.”
What does VfB mean to you?
Tiago: “After Portugal, VfB has become my second home. We don’t have any egos in the team and we all fight together to achieve the same goals. Solidarity is one of the main values at VfB. The passion and the emotions that we show out on the pitch and in our mindset are carried over to the fans and much wider. Those elements play a key role for us.”
Sebastian Hoeneß, and then Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon – I turned pro under him. Those are the two coaches I’ve had the best relationship with so far.
What sets you and your style of play apart?
Tiago: “I’ve got plenty of speed and I like to make deep runs, either out wide or in the box. I like to make dangerous, deep runs, I’m happy to go one-on-one, I’m always looking to head towards goal and yet I keep my eyes open to see whether any of my team-mates are in a better position.”
This interview is taking place in Tasca im Feui, a Portuguese restaurant in the east of Stuttgart. Have you been here before?
Tiago: “No, this is my first time here, but the food’s great. Hosts Lola and Achim are really nice, and Lola has already given me a few tips in the kitchen. It tastes like home. I’ll definitely be coming back here!”
Which coach have you learned the most from?
Tiago: “Sebastian Hoeneß, and then Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon – I turned pro under him. Those are the two coaches I’ve had the best relationship with so far. Their playing styles are the ones that I can best identify with.”
The craziest rollercoaster to date was when we managed to avoid relegation in the last minute against 1. FC Köln in 2021/22.
Who is your toughest opponent to date?
Tiago: “Dayot Upamecano at Bayern and Matthijs de Ligt of Manchester United. They’ve made life really tough for me as an attacker.”
Which match so far in your career is one that you will never forget?
Tiago: “My very first match as a pro for Sporting against Gil Vicente. I came on for the last nine minutes and we won 2-1. I had a number of special matches when I was at Sporting, particularly in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons when we won the league and the cup. The craziest rollercoaster to date was when we managed to avoid relegation in the last minute against 1. FC Köln in 2021/22.”
How do you keep in touch with your family?
Tiago: “My family come to visit me as often as they can, and when we have two home games in the space of a week, like this one, it’s the ideal opportunity. My parents and my sister came and watched the Augsburg match. My mum’s birthday is coming up and I hope that I can give her something special as a present. It’s very important for me to spend time with my family.”
What are you expecting from the Augsburg match?
Tiago: “After the defeat in Leipzig, it’s important for us to bounce back. We’re playing at home and we’ll have our fans behind us. We’re looking to pick up points and it’ll be a good opportunity to build on what we’ve achieved so far.”
