Jorge Jesus ahead of Saturday's visit to Boavista

“It was a good week for us, with William and Ewerton coming back”, opened Jorge Jesus in Friday’s pre-match press conference, ahead of what the Sporting coach sees as a tough weekend trip north to take on Boavista

While visits to Estádio do Bessa is never an easy task, the Alvalade boss is looking to build on recent results: “After a win, things always go that bit better, but we are going to take on a good team who are recovering well. They are a team with a long history and it will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Boavista throw everything they can at you, but we are ready.”

Jesus also commented on his possible squad for tomorrow: “William is included and he is recovering quicker than Ewerton. Thing could change tomorrow, but I will decide tomorrow. His (William) characteristics will fit into the way we play. Good players get into any team.”

The Sporting coach also spoke about Fredy Montero’s recent scoring form, as well as Gelson Martins’ spell with the senior squad and the inclusion of Matheus Pereira: “The lads win their place during the week and on the pitch, which goes for those who normally play and for those who are coming in for the first time. It is good to know that we have two players like Teo and Montero, who are both quality players for both the team and the squad. Gelson Martins has been playing well and he is a young lad with a lot of potential, just like Mateus. We believe in their potential and they will get their chance. We are really happy with Gelson.”

Boavista-Sporting will kick-off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio do Bessa, Porto.

Artur Soares Dias named for I Liga matchday six

Artur Soares Dias, 36, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting's visit to Boavista, on I Liga matchday six.

Rui Licínio and Bruno Rodrigues will act as linesmen.

Boavista-Sporting will kick off at 20h45 on Saturday the 26th of September, in Estádio do Bessa (Porto).

Jorge Jesus reflects on another three I Liga points

“It was hard to win against a side that defended well”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match press conference after his side’s battling victory against Nacional on Monday night.

For the Sporting coach, the key to unlocking the three points was some calm nerves in the closing stages: “We never showed anxiety and that it why we scored. Only a team that keeps their calm can make the difference when it matters. In the first-half we had trouble finding space. Montero was important to remedy that.”

Reflecting on the win, Jesus added: “You have to battle to win. There are no easy games and that is why we are at the top of the table. It was important to win and we want to fight for the title until the end. The lads deserve a pat on the back for playing as a team like they did. To win the league you have to suffer sometimes and the fans really got behind us.”

Montero scores late winner to keep Sporting ahead of the pack

Jorge Jesus’ side were only interested in a win this Monday evening against Nacional that would keep Sporting at the top of the I Liga table and no other result looked likely, with the team from Alvalade holding down long spells of possession and pegging the visitors back into their final third.

Chance after chance failed to put the ball in the ball of the net, with Gelson, Slimani and Jefferson all coming close in the first-half. However, the pressure soon paid off, when Sequeira was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence. A man down, the visitors could do little more than bunker down in defence, while Sporting continued to press for a goal.

The second-half was much of the game, with Jorge Jesus’ charges piling on the pressure but struggling to create space to get a shot away against a closed Nacional defence. Nerves began to show in the crowd, but some calm, collective play finally got its reward four minutes from time, when Montero found a yard to tuck away the winner.

The result keeps Sporting in 1st, tied on 13 points with FC Porto. Sporting are next in action at the weekend against Boavista, in Estádio do Bessa.

Montero happy with Monday's winner against Nacional

Fredy Montero proved crucial in Monday’s win over Nacional, coming off the bench to score the winner four minutes from time.

"We knew that Nacional are a tough side. We tried to score early, but we didn’t and that makes things harder”, opened the Colombian at the final whistle, adding a word on his side’s recovery from last week’s loss to Lokomotiv Moscow: “Sporting has some really experienced players and we know how to deal with this kind of situation.”

In parallel, Montero promised to keep putting in the work to keep up his goal streak: “I am going to carry on working and I will try to take opportunities when they come to score and to help the team.”

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on hosting of Nacional

Jorge Jesus is expecting his side to put Thursday’s Europa League loss to Lokomotiv Moscow squarely behind them, starting with Monday night’s hosting of Nacional.

“I am not expecting it to be easy. We have to play at the level we have been at offensively and a bit better in defence compared to our last game, because we want to win. If we want to stay at the top of the table, we have to win”, opened the Alvalade coach, guaranteeing that his side have shaken off last week’s setback: “Of course you aren’t happy when you lose, but what matters is that we have understood what was wrong in defence. When you are at this stage of the season, in the middle of several competitions, you don’t have that much time to change tactics and you have to focus on getting the players in shape for the next match. Our main focus is the league and we want to stay in first, which starts with Nacional tomorrow.”

Jesus also stressed that Sunday’s encounter between FC Porto and Benfica will in no way effect his players: “What matters is that if we win tomorrow, then we will still be in first. What happens between FC Porto and Benfica doesn’t make a difference. We have to focus on our own match.”

Asked to reflect on his side’s solid form outside of Alvalade this season, the sporting coach added: “We have played more games away and won all of them. At home we only didn’t beat Paços de Ferreira. What I want is the players to show class and power, just like they have been doing. We don’t want to slip away from the top of the table and to make sure we don’t we have to win tomorrow.”

Jorge Jesus also spared a few words for Sporting B star Matheus Pereira, who have been working with the senior squad. “He is a young player with a lot of potential and who fits in with the team. We believe in him, just like we believe in Gelson. He could come into the team at any time, but he is still developing”, said Jesus before finishing on the recovery of William Carvalho and Ewerton after long spells out through injury: “They are back in full training now, but they have been out of action for around two months. Clinically they are 100%, but physically, technically and tactically they aren’t, so we will work with them during the week.”

Sporting-Nacional will kick-off at 21h00 on Monday the 21st of September, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Fábio Veríssimo to take charge of I Liga matchday five

Fábio Veríssimo, 32, from the Leiria Football Association, has been named for Sporting’s hosting of Nacional, on I Liga matchday five.

Pedro Felisberto and Rui Freire will act as linesmen, with Carlos Coelho acting as observer.

Sporting-Nacional will kick-off at 21h00 on Monday the 21st of September, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus on his side's win against Académica

Jorge Jesus proved satisfied with his side’s 3-1 win over Académica this Sunday, particularly after a difficult mid-week Champions League in Moscow.

“This game, like the one against Paços de Ferreira, was one that I thought would be dangerous because it was after a Champions League match in the middle of the week. Competitions like that always take a bit out of the players physically and psychologically, but we got over that hurdle and are still in in the top places in the league, which is important for me at the start of the season”, opened the Alvalade coach, adding: “It could have been an easier game, but once again the referee put our opponent back in the game with a penalty decision. We won the three points and that is all that matters. In this league no points are easy to win.”

Slimani was brought down in the area for what looked to be a clear penalty, but the afternoon’s referee, Bruno Esteves, waved away the appeals: “It is nothing to do with us complaining about persecution. What we are taking about are decisions which have been taken by referees which have gone against Sporting. I believe it isn’t intentional, but we still feel it. It is happening in almost every game, but it isn’t persecution.”

Sporting’s third goal of the evening was scored by Aquilani from the 12-yard spot, after Adrien had missed a penalty of his own shortly before. “We have several players who can score penalties and I pick who takes them. Adrien knows he is the priority, followed by Aquilani, Slimani and Teo, but with the pressure off missing, it was best that Aquilani took that one”, finished Jesus, commenting on the Italian being given the call up to the penalty spot instead of Adrien.

Ricardo Esgaio on Sporting's 3-1 win in Coimbra

Ricardo Esgaio made his 2015/16 I Liga debut this weekend, in Sporting’s 3-1 win over Académica.

“We started really strong and achieved our objective of getting the three points. We came into this after two hard results, but we did well today”, affirmed the young wing-back at the final whistle, adding: “We have to keep working hard the team. Everyone knows what Sporting has been going through right now, but we have to keep working hard.”

Assistant coach Raul José also met with the press, stepped in for Jorge Jesus after the Sporting coach was sent off just before half-time: “We started strong and quickly went two goals ahead, but the referee got Académica back into the game and we had to take a different approach in the second-half. It was an intense game, but the result could have been even more one-sided if it wasn’t for the penalty.”

Sporting beat Académica to climb into second

Strikes from Carlos Mané, Slimani and Aquilani gave Sporting a well-earned 3-1 win over Académica this Sunday evening moving Sporting up into second place in I Liga.

The game couldn’t have started better for Jorge Jesus’ side, when Carlos Mané escaped his marker after six minutes after being picked out by Adrien and calmly slotted past Lee. As expected, Sporting had possession completely under control and began steadily pegging Académica back into their defensive third. Another two opportunities to extend the lead came in the first quarter of an hour, first when Carrillo broke away down the right to set up a João Mário shot that the home keeper saved, before Jefferson scrapped paint off the post with a stringing effort from range.

A deserved second came in the 24th minute, when Carrillo again drove down the wing and put a ball across the middle for Slimani to smartly chip the Académica keeper and put Sporting two goals up.

With Sporting completely dominating the action, the hosts were given a lifeline three minutes after the half-hour mark when the referee signalled for a penalty against Adrien on Leandro Silva that Rabiola converted on. However, the goal did little to take the wind out of the Sporting sails and Ricardo Esgaio tested Lee in immediate response after taking advantage of a loose ball in the 18-yard box. The Académia keeper pulled off a half complete save, but Teo Gutiérrez was unable to keep the rebound on target. Just before the break Slimani was clearly brought crashing to the ground by João Real in the area, but the afternoon’s referee waved away a clear penalty appeal to start a sequence of events that saw Jorge Jesus sent off.

The second-half got underway with Sporting again testing their luck in attack, with Jefferson firing just high of the target from a free-kick. A third goal looked likely and João Mário could have obliged, but the Portuguese midfielder fired wired. Teo did everything right to put Sporting 3-1 ahead, but Lee made a brilliant stop to keep the difference down to just a single strike.

A battle for possession in midfield followed, but Académica’s spirited resistance finally broke in the 69th minute when Fernando Alexandre handballed for a penalty. Up stepped Adrien, but his usually calculated attempt was denied by the woodwork. Slimani was then pulled back by Fernando Alexande in the 18-yard box, this time with Aquilani called on to convert and secure the two-goal cushion.

Sporting will next be in action on the 13th of September, visiting Vila do Conde to take on Rio Ave.