Jorge Jesus dismisses the weather and affirms his side's readiness

Almost two hours after Legia coach Jacek Magier has backed Sporting CP as favourites to clinch the points in the Polish capital tomorrow, Jorge Jesus dismissed any sense of overconfidence and instead focused on the task at hand.

“What idea their coach has of us isn't that important to me. What matters is that we show what we are capable of. We know they will squeeze us on the pitch and from the stands, but the lads are used to it and it isn't the cold or the fans that will affect us", opened Jorge Jesus, going on to analyse the difference between the two sides: "You can say a team is favourite or not based on history. We could be considered as favourite because how how we have played in the group and we have been a bit unlucky really. We could have had more points, especially with how we played against Real Madrid and Dortmund. We wanted to get past the group stage, which we didn't, but we will push on anyway. We know that Legia are a creative side and tomorrow we will have to do again what we did against the other two teams in our group."

The Lisbon derby is just around the corner and Sporting CP are going in to the encounter tomorrow on the back of a tough hosting of Setúbal. However, Jesus affirmed his side's focus on tomorrow: "Like I said, 90% of what we are doing is about tomorrow. Obviously some of the lads might be carrying some knocks from Setúbal and we won't be taking any risks. Nothing special has happened yet, so I don't think we will have to worry about that sort of thing."

Bryan Ruiz confident in Sporting CP's chances of a place in the Europa League

"We won at home, but it wasn't easy and we had to fight hard to get the points. It will be a difficult match, but we believe we will get into the Europa League", said Bryan Ruiz in Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

The Polish capital is currently a good 20 degrees colder than Lisbon, however Ruiz dismissed the impact of the weather: "I don't think the cold will affect how we play. We are used to playing in places like this. We have played in Russia before and I don't think it makes a difference. We know how important it is for us to carry on in Europe and we know what we have to do tactically tomorrow."

Jesus leads his first training session Warsaw ahead of Champions League matchday 6

Useful information for Sporting CP fans travelling for Champions League matchday 6

Sporting Clube de Portugal will be in Poland on Wednesday, for a 20h45CET Champions League matchday 6 kick-off against Legia Warsaw.

To ensure that matchday is enjoyed without incident, fans should take into consideration the following:

Temperatures are expected to be between 0ºC and -9ºC, with periods of snow and rain. We recommend that our fans remain indoors until heading for the stadium. The Polish authorities have deemed that not enough visiting fans will be attending to justify a meeting point.

The recommended mode of transport is taxi, to the following address: 4 Mysliwiecka Street, which is next to the stadium and the entrance for Sporting Clube de Portugal's fans, who will enter through Gate D1 – SOUTH Zone.

Buses for Organised Fan Groups will also travel to 4 Mysliwiecka Street. Polish police will be present before, during and after the match.

It is vital that away fans avoid the NORTH zone of the stadium, including Lazienkowska Street – where Legia Warsaw's radical groups generally gather.

We further recommend that all Sporting Clube de Portugal fans avoid wearing club scarves, shirts or other material associated to Sporting CP.

The use of pyrotechnical devices in Poland is a crime and Sporting CP will pay the upmost attention to the behaviour of our fans in this respect.

Other information:

• Gates open 2 hours before kick-off (18h45CET);
• SCP fans sectors - 221 and 222 (Upper Tier) Entrance D1;
• You must bring a form of identification with you, as it may be requested at the entrance to the stadium
• € (euros) are not accepted
• Polish currency – Zloty –  1euro = 4.46 Zloty;
• Polish time = +1 hour in relation to Lisbon.

Jorge Jesus praises his side's performance against the European champions

Despite missing out 2-1 and seeing his side's hopes of Champions League knock-out stage qualification dashed, coach Jorge Jesus had some much deserved words of praise, after watching his side once again put Real Madrid to the test.

"We have missed out on two big opportunities to beat Real Madrid. Only a team with the quality of Sporting could play the way we did against who for me are the best team in the world. Honestly you couldn't see the difference in individual quality between the two sides tonight", said Jesus, going on to comment on the sending off of João Pereira: "We knew the second-half would be better for us, because physically we were better and Real Madrid had a hard game against Atlético Madrid at the weekend. They wouldn't have been able to keep up, but when João got sent off Real pushed harder. Even so, we still scored. João didn't do anything wrong and Kovacic played it smart. I am fed up of saying it, but this whole fair-play thing is a bit fake. It doesn't exist in football. It it did, then Kovacic wouldn't have done what he did to trick the referee."

Adrien Silva on Sporting CP's hosting of Real Madrid

Author of both of Sporting CP's goals against Real Madrid this season, Adrien was the understandable choice to speak with press after Tuesday's Champions League encounter.

"It feels like we are repeating ourselves, but honestly we did out best. We showed our quality and we created chances, but if you don't put the goals away you pay for it in the end. The result isn't what we deserved, but football can be like that", opened the Sporting CP captain, going on to speak about the sending off of João Pereira: "With 11 it was hard, but it was even worse with 10. It forces you to double up on everything, but the lads made the sacrifice and did the club proud."

William Carvalho and Gelson Martins on Tuesday's Champions League encounter

"Obviously playing with less numbers is hard, but honestly I didn't see what happened", said William Carvalho at the final whistle on Tuesday, before reflecting on Sporting CP's European campaign so far this season: "We have done well, despite not getting into the next round. The fans have really been behind us and we have to thank them for that."

Gelson Martins again attracted the limelight with another classy performance and the young winger was also sought after by the press at the final whistle. "We started well and we equalised. We didn't get the result but I thought we reacted well to the occasion. I didn't see what happened (in relation to the sending off of João Pereira), but it made things harder for us", said Martins, adding a word on the praise aimed at him by Zidane: "I won't get carried away by it, but of course I am happy. Real Madrid looking at me doesn't bother me. I have five years left on my contract with Sporting CP and I intend to see them out."

Manchester United legend takes milestone number before watching Alvalade host Real Madrid

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is officially Sporting CP's 150,000th Club Member, announced by Bruno de Carvalho before kick-off against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

"I love being in this stadium. Thank you all and I wish you the best. You are a great team", said Cantona in an interview on the pitch, before receiving a commemorative plaque from the Alvalade president.

Alvalade sets new crowd record with the hosting of the Galácticos

Sporting CP missed out to Real Madrid on Champions League matchday 5 this Tuesday, dashing any lingering hope of securing a place in the knock-out stages of the competition.

After just two minutes Adrien Silva found a yard of space in front of goal and was about to pull the trigger before Sergio Ramos scrambled back and cleared away. In response Cristiano Ronaldo tested Patrício with a dazzling turn and low shot, before a spell of well disputed football saw neither team create any clear opportunities to pull ahead.

The first goal of the evening was made to wait until a minute before the half-hour mark, when a Modric cross was scuffed by Cristiano Ronaldo deep inside the area. Varana was quickest to react and their was little Patrício could do from such close range. It was a harsh reflection of the action so far in front of a massive total of 50,046 fans and Jorge Jesus's side were not about to throw in the towel. Three minutes later Bruno César came agonizingly close to leveling for Sporting CP, before the Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos again put in a last ditch tackle.

Sporting CP's hopes of a comeback were dealt a heavy blow when João Pereira was given his matching ordered in the 64th minute after a tangle with Kovacic, but the reduction to 10 men actually blew new wind into the Alvalade sails. Fávio Coentrão, who had come on for the struggling Marcelo in the 71st minute, cut out classy touch from Joel Campbell with an obvious handball and Adrien Silva stepped up to finish from the penalty spot with his usual class.

Zidane rang the chances with the introduction of Benzema for Isco and it was the Frenchman who finally put Sporting CP's battling effort to bed, netting an 87th minute header after a cross from Sergio Ramos.

Jaime Marta Soares on the visit of the giants from the Spanish capital

A Sporting committee made up of Bruno de Carvalho, Luís Roque, José Quintela, Artur Torres Pereira, Rui Caeiro, Bruno Mascarenhas and Jaime Marta Soares hosted a special lunch for their Real Madrid counterparts this Tuesday, ahead of the evening's Champions League encounter.

Speaking about the relationships between Alvalade and the Santiago Bernabéu, Sporting General Assembly president Jaime Marta Soares affirmed: "Football is played on the pitch, but the level of respect between the two institutions and directors is really important as well. The way we were hosted in Madrid was brilliant and we had to repay that here today. This is a great moment between Real Madrid and Sporting CP...It isn't every day that that you play against Real Madrid and have the chance to see the best players produced here on display. Ronaldo is 'Made in Sporting' and the whole world knows him, just like Figo and the other 10 of our lads who won the European Championship with Portugal."