Jorge Jesus ahead of Thursday's hosting of Besiktas

Speaking in a Europa League matchday 6 pre-match press conference, Jorge Jesus warned caution for what is a powerful Besiktas front three, while affirming that his side have some tricks of their own in the race for a spot in the last-32.

“It is a game what will define qualification for Besiktas and Sporting. If we win, we carry on in the competition, which is what we want. We will be facing the team that is in first right now in the Turkish league, they are a strong side and they have three good players up front in Mario Gómez, Quaresma and Töre. Behind them three as well they have Sosa. They have really good players at the top end of the pitch and it won't be easy to stop them, but we are ready", opened the Alvalade boss, going on to comment on the usual subject of squad rotation: "We have reached the final game and we can still qualify, but that doesn't change my mind about the Europa League, which is an important competition for us. The domestic league is the most important thing anywhere in the world, but that won't take away from our responsibility tomorrow."

Revealing that Ewerton will not be available and that Teo Gutiérrez will be a late call tomorrow, Jesus also commented on the press linking Quaresma to Alvalade: "Nobody has any doubt that most Sporting fans would like to have Quaresma back. It has only come up to sell newspapers."