Jorge Jesus proud of his team as Liga NOS campaign comes to a close with 4-0 win in Braga

Jorge Jesus paid a fitting tribute to his team and the fans in his post-match interview this Saturday, after watching Sporting dismantle Braga on the last game of a season taken right down to the wire.

"We did what we had to do throughout the season. It was a real show of the power and quality of this squad. We had to win and that is exactly what we did. It is never easy here, especially to win 4-0", opened Jesus, adding: "The best doesn't always win. The best was Sporting."

The Alvalade boss of course could not close the season without a word for the fans: "They supported us right up until the last second. It isn't natural for a team to win 86 points and not be champion."

Jorge Jesus includes entire squad for Liga NOS climax

Coach Jorge Jesus has named all available 27 players to form his squad for this Sunday's visit to Braga, on Liga NOS matchday 34:

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Azbe Jug

Defenders: Schelotto, Naldo, João Pereira, Jefferson, Ewerton, Ricardo Esgaio, Sebastián Coates, Paulo Oliveira, Ruben Semedo, Tobias Figueiredo and Marvin Zeegelaar

Midfielders: William Carvalho, Alberto Aquilani, Adrien Silva, André Martins, João Mário, Bruno Paulista and Bruno César

Forwards: Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Teo Gutiérrez, Hernán Barcos and Slimani

Sp. Braga-Sporting CP will kick- off at 17h00 on Sunday the 15th of May, in the Braga Municipal Stadium.

Useful information for fans travelling to Braga

The club has released the following information for fans travelling to Braga on the last game of the season:
 
– The club's Organised Fan Groups should gather at Estádio José Alvalade by 09h00.

– Fans travelling in their own cars are advised to park near to the Braga Municipal Stadium, preferentially in the Dechathlon carpark.

Tickets for the last match of the season on sale as of Wednesday

Sporting will travel to the Braga Municipal Stadium, for a 17h00 kick-off on Sunday the 15th of May, on Liga NOS matchda 34 (last game of the season).

Tickets are on sale as follows:

WEDNESDAY | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and who have held a Member Gamebox for 13 years (100%)
THURSDAY | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and who have held a Member Gamebox from 7 to 12 years
FRIDAY | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and who have held a Member Gamebox for 1 to 6 years
SATURDAY | Club Members in general

Until tickets sell out, the Estádio José Alvalade ticket office will be open from 10h00 to 20h00.

€20 | Sector A16 + A15
€30 | Sector A14
€60 | Sector A13

A valid Member Gamebox must be shown on purchase of tickets (with April 2016 fees paid. Each Member Gamebox is valid for 1 ticket. Each person can bring a maximum of 4 cards.

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."

Bruno de Carvalho on the SAD shareholder and CCD holder meetings this week

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD and club president Bruno de Carvalho proved satisfied with the result of the two General Assemblies held this week (SAD shareholders and Compulsory Convertible Debenture (CCD) holders).

“The General Assembly was quick, but it wasn't an easy day. Everything was unanimously approved by all banks and even the smallest debenture holder. These is still the opportunity to ask for conversation up until Friday, but we are happy because everything was unanimously approved and I believe that the banks will comply with the rest of the agreement", said Bruno de Carvalho at the end of the meetings.

In parallel, the Sporting president also shared his thoughts on Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga: "I hope we don't make the mistakes we did last time, which actually was a good match with two good teams. Every match is important and we have to look at them all in the same way. That is the only way we will get to May with the objectives we want."

Mobile Club Store next to Gate 4 in Estádio José Alvalade

The Mobile Club Store will again be in action for Sporting's 16h00 hosting of Sp. Braga on Sunday. The store will be open next to Gate 4 (next to CUF), while the Official Club Store at the stadium will be open until 20h00.

Sporting-Sp. Braga, will kick off at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Sousa named for Liga NOS matchday 17

Jorge Sousa, 40, from the Porto Football, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 17 hosting of Sp. Braga.

Bertino Miranda and Álvaro Mesquita will act as linesmen.

This will be Sousa's third time in charge of a Sporting match this season, following the Super Cup (1-0 against Benfica) and the Portuguese Cup fourth round (2-1 against Benfica).

In total, the Porto Football Association official has refereed 15 matches in Liga NOS, II Liga, the Portuguese Cup, League Cup, Super Cup, Champions League and Europa League so far this season.

Sporting-Sp. Braga will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Tickets for Sp. Braga and Tondela

Tickets for the matches against Sp. Braga and Tondela go on sale this Monday, priced as follows:

Sporting – Sp. Braga

STAND A
Central – 25 euros for Club Members and 35 euros for fans
Lateral – 20 euros for Club Members and 30 euros for fans
Goal End – 15 euros for Club Members and 25 euros for fans
Under-23/Senior – 15 euros for Club Members

STAND B
Central – 20 euros for Club Members and 25 euros for fans
Lateral – 15 euros for Club Members and 20 euros for fans
Goal End – 10 euros for Club Members and 15 euros for fans
Under-23/ Senior – 10 euros for Club Members
Under-11 – 5 euros for Club Members
Anti-crisis – 5 euros for Club Members

Sporting – Tondela

STAND A
Central – 20 euros for Club Members and 30 euros for fans
Lateral – 15 euros for Club Members and 25 euros for fans
Goal End – 10 euros for Club Members and 20 euros for fans
Under-23/Senior – 10 euros for Club Members

STAND B
Central – 15 euros for Club Members and 20 euros for fans
Lateral – 10 euros for Club Members and 15 euros for fans
Goal End – 7 euros for Club Members and 12 euros for fans
Under-23/ Senior – 7 euros for Club Members
Under-11 – 3.5 euros for Club Members
Anti-crisis – 5 euros for Club Members

William Carvalho after his side's Portuguese Cup exit

William Carvalho was on target for Sporting in the Portuguese Cup extra-time loss to Braga this Wednesday. Speaking with the press at the final whistle, the Portuguese international highlighted the quality of his side's opposition on the night.

“It was a hard-fought game between two good teams. In the first-half we controlled it and we took the lead, but Braga ended up scoring from their only chance. In the second-half we let another goal in and the team dipped a bit, but we did have a goal ruled out in extra-time. Braga are a good side, on the same level as the big three, and they deserve a pat on the back for the work they are doing. We fought as hard as we could to defend our title, but now we will focus on our other objectives in the league", said William.