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Tobias, Jefferson, Naldo and William
Sporting's Medical Department has released the following clinical update on the first team:
Tobias: specialised training
Jefferson: muscle injury in the right calf - in treatment
Naldo: muscle injury in the right thigh - in treatment
William: trauma to the left foot - in treatment
President's interview with EFE
President Bruno de Carvalho gave an extensive interview to the Spanish news agency EFE this week, talking about various themes affecting national nad international football.
Funds were also inevitably reflected on, as well as Andre Carrillo, Bryan Ruiz's form and bids for William Carvalho.
Various references to the interview can be found below:
First team injury news
- Tobias Figueiredo: twist to the right knee. In treatment;
- William Carvalho: myalgia in the left thigh. In treatment;
- Bruno Paulista: muscle injury in right thigh. Conditional training;
- Bryan Ruiz: shock to left knee. In treatment.
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.
William highlights his team's battling spirit
William Carvalho netted a decisive penalty in Sporting's hard-earned win over Belenenses this Monday evening. Speaking with the press at the final whistle, the Alvalade midfielder highlighted his team's persistence.
“It was a hard game, because Belenenses defended well. When you play against eleven players who all pack into their own half it is tough, but we did well and Belenenses didn't have any chances", opened William, going on to comment on the penalty decision: "From what I saw, it looked like Tonel touched the ball with his hand."
While Sporting have tallied 29 from a possible 33 points so far this season, William was keen to keep his side's feet firmly on the ground. "There is still a lot of football to play and we just have to focus on ourselves. FC Porto and Benfica have great sides", added the stand-in skipper, before finishing on how his contract talks are progressing: "I have spoken with the president and I hope to see everything sorted as soon as possible. It will be easy."
Sporting battle to victory over Belenenses with a late penalty
Sporting battled to another three points this Monday night, beating Belenenses 1-0 on Liga NOS matchday 11. Jorge Jesus' side dominated from start to finish, but it took a penalty in added-time to finally define to the result.
Bouyed by a thunderous performance in the Europa Leauge in Moscow last Thursday and encouraged by an enthusiastic crowd, the team from Alvalade soon had Belenenses on the back foot. After just four minutes Montero picked out Bryan Ruiz high up the pitch for the Costa Rican to find a yard of space and put a ball across the edge of the box, but Adrien's shot was blocked by the visiting defence. Montero was again the instigator in the next move forward, this time finding Slimani, but the Algerian was beaten to the ball by the on rushing Hugo Ventura.
Belenenses could do little but bunker down under the Alvalade attacking display and on 18 minutes Montero came close to opening the scoring, when the Colombian broke away from his marker at the edge of the box to fire a shot towards goal that Hugo Ventura turned away with an outstretched save.
Although surely an emotional return to Alvalade for Ricardo Sá Pinto, the Sporting legend did a fine job of setting his team out defensively. While Jesus' side continued to move the ball around freely, a penetrating pass in the final third was lacking and it wasn't long before efforts from range began to gain a certain appeal. William Carvalho fired one over in the 36th minute, before Bryan Ruiz's genius saw the Alvalade forward ghost past various defenders and get a shot away that was turned for a corner by the Belenenses keeper.
The second-half got underway with another Sporting attempt on goal, this time with Slimani uncharacteristically missing the target with a header. The Alvalade stands were craving a goal, but neither Montero or Jonathan Silva were able to find the back of the net. With impatience starting to creep in, Hugo Ventura was finally shown a yellow card for taking an excessive amount of time to put the ball back into play.
Again Montero and Jonathan Silva created chances to take a lead, this time with the Argentinean picking out Montero with a spraying pass that the Colombian was unable to convert on .
Jesus introduced Gelson Martins and Matheus Pereira into the action and the game continued one-way, but a goal was proving near impossible to come by. Beneneses were completely unable to materialise any sort of danger for Rui Patrício's goal, but their well organised defensive style kept them in with a chance of some unlikely points as the clock ticked over. On 75 minutes Matheus Pereira burst into the box, but his shot ended up in the wrong side of the side netting.
On 82 minutes Belenenses had possibly their best chance of the ninety, when Luís Leal instigated a counter-attacking move, but the final product ended up wide of Rui Patrício's goal. Two minutes later the recently introduced Tanaka found Slimani, but the Algerian's header lacked power and was smothered by Hugo Ventura.
With dropped points looking all but inevitable, the evening's referee found time to show yellow to Slimani and see him suspended as a result from the next match. However, the best certainly was kept until last, when Tonel bafflingly cut out a ball with his hand to award Sporting a penalty that William Carvalho calmly slotted to seal the win.
Injury news for Jorge Jesus' squad
Sporting Clube de Portugal has released the following clinical update:
- William: twisted left ankle (in the Sporting-Benfica match);
- Bruno Paulista: Contusion to the right thigh;
- Jefferson: myalgia in the left thigh;
- Carlos Mané: twisted left foot (suffered with the national under-21 team);
- Teo Gutiérrez: pubic osteitis
