Jorge Jesus sits down with the press ahead of hosting of Tondela

Jorge Jesus was in the Alvalade press room this Thursday afternoon, giving his first press conference of the second half of this season's Liga NOS campaign.

“The match is worth three points. I know matches against the big names seem to mean more, but this match is worth the same three points that the one against Sp. Braga was. We want to carry on in first place and we will have to show we can do that against Tondela. It will be a normal match against a team that is well organised in defence and that sits back, so we won't have a lot of space and they will try and surprise us on the counter-attack", opened the Alvalade boss, following up: "A name of where a team is in the league doesn't matter to us. If you concentrate on that sort of thing, then you might get a nasty surprise. We have already lost to one of the last placed teams and that shows that we have to respect every opponent."

“The second half of the season begins tomorrow and we are better than we were at the beginning of the season, because we have four more points than our rivals. Things have been going better than we expected, because it isn't easy to earn your place with the two teams that normally fight for the title. We are on the right track now and the lads are feeling good. We are playing some really quality football, but that doesn't guarantee first place", reflected Jesus, going on to comment on Sporting officially attracting the best crowds so far this season: "That is good news, but we won't stop there and we want more and more fans with us. The fans have been really important and against Sp. Braga they made the difference."

Asked about news articles published today about Schelotto, as well as a variety of efforts to target Slimani, Jorge Jesus played it cool: "I have been in football for many years now and I know how important it is to try and destabilise. Don't mess around, particularly with me. This is another attempt to try and upset Slimani with things that don't exist. What I will say is that you should all pay attention to a team that has earned everything it has now and that people are trying to create a lot of problems inside the club. People are trying to pressure Slimani and Sporting has lost some power in the places where certain decisions are made. Slimani is a really loyal player, he is aggressive and he runs a lot, but he respects his opponents and he is a great person. He is exemplary as a player and as a player."

Jesus finished by his idea that Sporting will likely play better in the second half of the season, as well as with a comment on the return of Teo Gutiérrez: “He arrived today and he will train tomorrow. The medical team will observe him and see what has to be done."

Luís Ferreira for Liga NOS matchday 18

Luís Ferreira, 38, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 18 hosting of Tondela.

Nuno Manso and Luís Cabral will act as linesmen.

Sporting-Tondela will get underway at 20h30 on Friday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Squad gets a bit of help from Herbalife's H24 range

Sporting's football stars tried something a little different for breakfast this morning. Sporting's official nutrition partner, Herbalife, hosted an event with the squad, showcasing some of their products such as the Formula 1 Sport shake, from the H24 range. Hydrate, Prolong, Rebuild Endurance and Rebuild Strength drinks also feature in this range, designed for everyone who regularly exercises.

After finishing their breakfast, the players proved happy with the formula. “It is really useful for us. It helps us to recover and develop and it is a great source of energy. This is a great partnership for the club", said João Mário, before commenting on how he feels after drinking the shake: "I notice a difference and we try out different ones to see which makes us feel better. Herbalife products definitely help me and the rest of the squad."

Matheus Pereira also have his backing to the H24 range: "It is great. I spoke with the lads from Herbalife and they explained everything. The power is great with banana or red fruits, for example. I really feel like it helps me get stronger. This partnership with Herbalife has been great and has helped us find that extra bit of energy.”

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's comeback against Sp. Braga

"This isn't a special moment. It is a moment in which we won another three points after being 2-0 behind. Without really understanding why, we were losing at half-time. We were the best side for the whole 45 minutes. João Mário had a chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper and so did Slimani, Paulo Oliveira hit the post...Sp. Braga scored two goals created by individual quality, from two brilliant bits of skill from Rafa, but they didn't really deserve it", opened Jorge Jesus in a flash interview at the final whistle on Sunday night, after inspiring his side to a battling 3-2 comeback.

Asked what he said to his players at the break, the Alvalade boss said: “We spoke and I told them that they had the quality to turn it around. We had the fans with us, even when we were losing 2-0, which really helped in the second-half. I don't know if there were 40 thousand or 450 thousand people in the stadium today, but they were really important. It was a great game with some great refereeing. We haven't won anything yet, but today we put in another performance that shows why we are in the top places in the league. We won against a really good side today."

Adrien on his side's 3-2 win against Braga on Sunday night

Adrien Silva highlighted his team's attitude and quality in fighting back from 2-0 down against Sp. Braga this Sunday.

“I don't know if it was the kind of result that champions get, but it was a great win for a team that showed character after being down 2-0 at half-time. In the first-half we had three clear opportunities to score, but we didn't give up", said the Alvalade skipper before touching on Jorge Jesus' talk at half-time: "He told us to believe in our work and in our ability. We showed a great attitude and that converted into goals in the second-half. The fans were even with us when we were losing and they gave us the strength to turn the result around."

Sporting come back from 2-0 down at half-time

Sporting pulled off one of the most memorable comebacks since the inauguration of the new Estádio José Alvalade in 2003 this Sunday. Trailing 2-0 at half-time on what was an afternoon of absolutely torrential rain in the Portuguese capital, Jorge Jesus' side rallied in the second-half to ensure that the gap at the top of Liga NOS stays at a minimum of four points.

The visitors made their intentions for the afternoon clear in the opening exchanges, with Braga's pace and creativity looking likely to cause problems. After just a minute of action, Wilson drove a shot goalwards after a corner and five minutes later Pedro Santos had Rui Patrício twitching with a curved effort. Jorge Jesus' side weathered the early storm and were soon down the other end, with João Mário denied by Kritciuk after the Portuguese international had broken free of his marker in the area.

After two efforts that finished up the wrong side of the crossbar from Bruno César, it was Slimani's turn to break through on goal in front of the isolated Kritciuk, but the Braga keeper held his ground well to comfortably deny the Algerian's chip. Seven minutes later, João Mário curved a corner out to the onrushing Paulo Oliveira, but his header crashed against the post and Kritciuk somehow clawed the loose ball off the line. Despite the on-way traffic, it was actually Braga who took the lead, when Wilson Eduardo made the most of some scrappy play in the area to find the bottom corner. To add insult to injury, Rafa charged through the middle four minutes later and made it 2-0.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes at half-time, bringing off William Carvalho and introducing Gelson Martins down the right. After three minutes of action Bryan Ruiz was somehow denied by the Braga keeper, a minute before Rui Patrício made a fine stop from Pedro Santos. Back down the other end, Sporting finally found the back of the net when Adrien converted on a penalty after a clear handball from André Pinto.

The goal broke Braga's resistance and Slimani could have completed the comeback almost immediately with golden opportunities in the 59th and 65th minute. Kritciuk made another brilliant stop in the 71st minute from a low shot by Gelson Martins, but the Braga keeper could do little to keep Montero out five minutes later after the Colombian latched onto a shot by Jefferson.

Sp. Braga could have won it themselves in the dying stages, but Rui Patrício was on hand to deny Rafa, before Slimani sealed the result with a 90th minute header after a wire-guided cross from Bryan Ruiz.

Tobias Figueiredo

Tobias Figueiredo has undergone an arthroscopy on his right knee in Hospital CUF - Descobertas. The operation was undertaken by Dr. Pedro Pessoa and went as planned.

The player is expected to be out of action for 6 weeks.

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."

Marcelo Boeck

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Marcelo Boeck for the renewal of his contact, valid until 2018 with an additional optional season and a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Marcelo Boeck the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking after penning the deal, the Alvalade keeper was in a happy mood: "I am really satisfied with the confidence shown in me by the coach and the president. It is recognition of my work and this is a great time to be at Sporting. To be part of this is good for me. This contract is down to four and a half years of work at the club. It represents a lot of dedication to Sporting. This is like my home now and it is where I have spent a big part of my life."

Sporting-Sp. Braga at 16h00 on Sunday

Sporting Clube de Portugal will host Sporting Clube de Braga at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of December.

More than 35,000 fans have already secured their seat for what is the last game of the first half of the season. Ticket offices will open from 10h00 to 20h00 on Friday the 9th of January, with non-renews Special Seats also on sale.

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will also be open from 14h30 on matchday.