Jorge Jesus happy with his side's display against Skënderbeu

Speaking with the press after his side's comfortable win against Skënderbeu (5-1), Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with the season's first three Europa League points.

“The game wasn't how I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting so many goals. We knew we could win this and that is what we were looking to do, but the lads surprised me with five goals and some good play. Obviously the sending off in the first-half conditions the rest of the match and makes it a bit easier, but we naturally created chances and played some good football", opened Jesus, before speaking in more depth about some individual performances.

“Our first objective was to win, which we did. Our second was to play well, which we did. Our third was to give some of the lads some time on the pitch, which we did. I won't focus just on  Matheus Pereira, who is making the most of his chance. Bruno Paulista also looks good and Gelson as well", added the Alvalade coach, continuing: "Of course this is a win that keeps us in the fight to qualify. We knew we had to win and we will have to do the same thing in Albania so we have something to play for against Lokomotiv and Besiktas."

With the Lisbon derby just around the corner, Jesus doesn't see his side as holding the edge, despite having rested some of his big guns: "A team that plays on Thursday won't be any better rested on Sunday than a team that played on Wednesday. A team that plays on Thursday cannot prepare, because it is only two days until Sunday, while a team that plays on Wednesday has that extra day. I believe in my players and I took a gamble on them, but of course we wouldn't be saying the same thing if it had been a different result. As a coach I have to take chances and that sometimes involves a few risks. A derby is always different and you can't look too much at how the two sides are playing. We will be up against a strong team, but we are strong too and we want to win this one."