Jorge Jesus ahead of Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga

Sporting will host Sp. Braga at 16h00 this Sunday, on Liga NOS matchday 16. On the back of wins against FC Porto (2-0) and V. Setúbal (6-0), Jorge Jesus sees this as his side's best spell of the season.

“We will be taking on an excellent team. One of the best in Portugal in fact and they have already beaten us. It is a club that is making a name for themselves both on and off the pitch. They have their own objectives and a team with a lot of quality that will make life difficult for us tomorrow. It will be one the same level as the game against FC Porto here, for example", opened the Sporting coach in a pre-match press conference on Saturday evening, adding: "We are ready for those difficulties. We will try to play at the level we have been at, to defend first place with a win. Obviously Braga will have other intentions, but we are feeling confident. The fans will be with us again and that will help us get over this hurdle."

There is little doubt that Sporting are currently on-song, with two convincing Liga NOS wins. For Jorge Jesus, this is certainly his team's best form of the campaign so far: "Over the course of the season, teams go through different periods. It is only natural that Sporting go through a strong spell now and I have already said that we will be stronger in the second half of the season. These last two games are our best form of the season so far. This is the last game of the first half of the season and, whatever the result, Sporting will be in first at the start of the second half of the season. It has been a brilliant season so far, spectacular in every way, from the quality of how we have been playing to the points we have."

Asked about the possible debut of Marvin Zeegelaar and Bruno César's stellar performace against V. Setúbal, Jesus explained: “Bruno César, as well as being more of a forward player, already knows me and those are two positive things. His relationship with the team makes it easier. He has been working with us for a month and that made it easier for him to come on and play with the quality he showed. Marvin has been with us for a week. He is a defensive player and that makes it a bit tricker if you are looking to attack, but with time he will fit in, like Schelotto."

After brushing off temptation to add to a war of words with Rui Vitória, Jorge Jesus commented on Julen Lopetegui's exit from FC Porto: "No coach likes to see a colleague in that position, but that is not my decision to make. I hope that he gets back into work as quickly as possible, because every coach always want to be involved."