Adrien reflects on season so far and the importance of the Alvalade youth system

Sporting skipper Adrien Silva gave shared an extensive interview this week, talking about the Alvalade youth system, as well as what has been a fantastic season so far for the talismanic captain.

The Sporting midfielder proved particularly proud of a recent study released by the Portuguese Football Federation on call-ups to the national under-15 to under-19, under-20 and under-20 squads, which put Sporting ahead of the rest of the pack: "Sporting always has been one of the best youth systems in the world and the study is fair recognition of the work being doing at the Academy. In my case, I arrived there when I was 12 and I went through the whole youth system at the club, so you I can say I learnt to become a man and a player here. I am really happy with the study. I have been in teams that have won national championships at under-15 up to under-19 and then I made by debut for the senior team when I was 18. It was also really important to spend time away, where I picked up experience and I am a better player today because of it. All I am missing is winning the senior title, after the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup."

In relation to the season so far, Adrien affirmed his side's confidence in turning in another win after a battling victory against Académica: “Rio Ave are one of the good sides in our league and that is why they are towards the top end of the table. They play some good football and they don't just look to defend. If that will make it easier for us, well I don't think you can look at it like that. Sporting always goes for the win against whoever we are playing against and it is down to us to put into practice what we have been doing during the week."

The Sporting number 23 also went on to highlight the importance of the fans this year in Sporting's title charge: “Both at home and away, the fans have been with us and they were again against Académica. They were crucial for us turning the game around. We let a goal in early, but we felt the fans with us and that is really important for us to carry on taking each game as it comes and to win the title. We are up there fighting for it! It is us that got us where we are now, in a fight that was only between two teams until last year!"