FC Pacos de Ferreira

A typical, safe, midtable performance, last year, for ‘Castores’. However, Paços needed to change the coach after a not so promising start. Jorge Simão was unable to drive the team into a good sequence. César Peixoto arrived for round 15 when the club was dangerously close to relegation places, and he managed to bring them up to a comfortable position (7th, in round 32). They relaxed in the final weeks and were dropped to 11th, but things looked nice with Peixoto at the helm. César Peixoto has quite a margin for the next season after a great job in the last one. He managed to improve the game of the team, while activating new assets on the squad, such as youngsters Nuno Lima and Luís Basto, or moving the winger Juan Delgado into a positive experience as full-back. However, this has been a tough summer for Paços, who lost many important players from last season, and it doesn’t look like they have brought enough quality (and quantity!) to face those multiple departures. Goalkeeper André Ferreira left after a fantastic season. He will be replaced by Jordi, who returns from long injury to retain his place from 2020. Will he be in good form, though? At the back, Maracas and Baixinho, the duo of the last few years, are left, and only the injury prone Tiago Ilori was brought (coming from successive negative seasons in Boavista, Lorient and Sporting). Ganchas can be the reference at the back, but there are rumours for a transfer as well. Nuno Santos, arguably the best midfielder last season, is also gone, while Eustaquio had already left in January. The only new man for the position is the Scottish Jordan Holsgrove, who comes from Celta B team. Biggest hopes rely on the 19-year-old Matchoi Djaló and, of course, in the veteran big name Nico Gaitan. In attack, more problems: Hélder Ferreira, Denilson and Butzke left. Wingers Nigel Thomas and Artur Sales came in, while the Israeli striker Dor Jan will be having another chance after a loan spell. Arthur Sales is perhaps the most interesting new signing for the season, but all in all, César Peixoto will need to reinvent his team to keep Paços competitive for the season.