Jorge Jesus highlights the importance of keeping a grip on first place after win against Estoril

Speaking at the final whistle after watching Sporting open up a five-point lead at the top of I Liga, Jorge Jesus highlighted his side's recent defensive performances, having only let in two goals in the last five encounters.

“There were some tough periods tonight, with Estoril creating problems like we thought they would. When a team is in first, it is normal to have games like this one, but I thought the lads showed that they knew what to do and took the right decisions. Sometimes it looks like we are taking one touch too many, but that is how we have been training. Estoril positioned themselves well defensively, but we fixed some things in the second-half and improved. We had more opportunities and wasted some chances on open goal. The most important factor was that we didn't concede, because we are strong defensively. That is what won us this game", opened the Alvalade boss in a flash interview.

In parallel, Jesus spoke about the importance of winning after last week's 3-0 derby win: “It was important to win after the match in Estádio da Luz, because every match is worth three points. Today we had 40 thousand people in the stadium and that is a sign of the fans' confidence in us. It was important to stay top of the league, because if we think it was hard to get where we are then it will be even harder to stay there, but that is what makes champions."

William Carvalho's reaction to 1-0 win over Estoril

William Carvalho was given the captain's armband in place of the suspended Adrien against Estoril on Saturday.

Speaking about his side's performance, the Portuguese international commented: “We started well and we had a lot of possession, but we didn't create that many chances. After half-time we tired Estoril out. It was a good result and the lads deserve a pat on the back. It was worth another three points and we have to keep winning now. There are a lot of matches to play until the end of the season and we want to stay at the top of the league. We will keep putting the work in and our opponents should be worried about us."

Goal Teo Gutiérrez goal gives Sporting five point lead at the top of I Liga

Sporting held firm against a stubborn Estoril this Saturday evening, claiming a well-earned three points courtesy of a penalty converted on by Teófilo Gutiérrez at the start of the second-half.

With Gelson in for the suspended Adrien and the deployment of João Mário down the middle of the park, it was was obvious from early on that Estoril had come to Alvalade looking for an upset. In fact the visitors could have taken the lead after just 40 seconds, when Dieguinho took a first crack at Rui Patrício. Sporting held down the majority of possession, but space was scarce in the final third and closed defensive ranks starved the encounter of creativity, while Estoril looked happy to attack on the break down the flanks. On 18 minutes, after Slimani had come close with a header, Bruno César pulled a superb diving save out of Patrício.

Sporting livened up around the half-hour mark, pegging Estoril back and securing play in the opposition half. However, the forward lines were finding it difficult to create a clean chance on goal and a blank scoreboard at half-time was largely fair.

The interval proved just the trick for Jorge Jesus' side, with the Sporting coach's fine-tuning unlocking Estoril at the back. Chance after chance followed, including a 50th minute golden opportunity that Bryan Ruiz was unable to convert on after a cross from João Pereira. Just seconds earlier Mano looked to have cut out a cross with his arm, but the referee waved away the appeals for a spot kick.

The goal finally game in the 55th minute, when some collective play found Teófilo Gutiérrez just off to the side of the six-yard box, only for the Colombian to be brought down for a penalty that he himself calmly slotted in. The goal blew a whole in the heart of the Estoril defence and more chances naturally followed. Gelson forced a stop out of Kieszek in the 57th minute and nine minutes later Jefferson came painfully close to doubling the lead. Sporting could well have killed the game off with a series of opportunities as the clock ticked down and Bruno César fired a shot over in the 88th minute for the visitors, while there was still time for both Matheus Pereira and Bruno Paulista to make their I Liga debuts.

The result sees Sporting move five points clear at the top of I Liga.

Jorge Jesus includes 18 players to host Estoril

Jorge Jesus has named 18 players in his squad for Saturday's hosting of Estoril in Estádio José Alvalade, on I Liga matchday 9:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck

Defenders: Jefferson, Ewerton, Tobias, Paulo Oliveira and João Pereira

Midfielders: William, João Mário, André Martins and Bruno Paulista

Forwards: Slimani, Montero, Teo Gutierrez, Bryan Ruiz, Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins and Matheus Pereira

Sporting-Estoril will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Saturday's hosting of Estoril

“We want to carry on in first and we will do everything possible to defend that”, opened Jorge Jesus in a pre-match press conference on Friday, ahead of his side’s hosting of Estoril.

Coming into the encounter on the back of a moralising 3-0 away win against Benfica, the Sporting coach warned caution against the weekend’s visitors: “We know we will be playing against one of the strongest teams in the league. They have quality players and they will cause problems for us. We have been working hard during the week to be ready and we don’t underestimate anybody, especially Estoril. We have identified certain targets, such as Bruno César, who was my player and he is strong from dead ball situations.

“As soon as you go clear at the top of the league, you become a target for the teams that are fighting for that position. There is still a long way to go, but we want to be at the top of the league for as long as possible”, added the Sporting coach, finishing: “We are hoping that the fans turn out in force. It is for them that we work hard to give them quality and something to be happy about week in week out. We have scored 17 goals and only conceded two in the last four games, which I am obviously happy about and it shows the work we have been putting in.”

Sporting-Estoril will kick off on Saturday at 20h45, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Ferreira for I Liga matchday 9

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Official Club Store welcomes 1000 fans to meet Alvalade stars

Around 1000 fans were at the Official Club Store this Wednesday for an autograph session with Slimani, Adrien and Matheus Pereira. Although the event wasn’t due to actually get underway until 18h30, the first fan arrived at 14h00!

The crowd welcomed the fans into the store with songs and even a scarf from the Algerian national team was eagerly given to Slimani for the Alvalade striker to sign.

“I wasn’t expecting so many people to come. I know that a lot of people have been waiting here for hours now and it is important that we repay all of the support that we have been given. We want to earn the fans’ support and do everything we can to keep them happy”, said Adrien at the session, continuing: “This is a way of spending some time with the fans and thanking them for the support that they give us in every match, no matter where we play.”

Matheus Pereira was also taken back by the mass of support on display: “It is really good to spend some time with the fans. With this rain it isn’t just anybody who makes the effort to come here and I am really happy to see so much support.”

Paulo Oliveira on his side's 3-0 derby win

“We showed we are a great team, because only a great team can come to Estádio da Luz and win 3-0”, affirmed Paulo Oliveira at the final whistle on Sunday.

For the young Portuguese international, the result was a reflection on the homework done by his side during the week: “We showed that we had studied and everyone knew what to do. Everyone in the group knows what we are capable of, but this win doesn’t mean much if we can’t repeat it in our next matches.”

The Alvalade defender went on to praise the influence of Jorge Jesus: “The coach did a great job getting us ready for this game, because he knows this Benfica team and he turned that into something that helped us. We proved today that we are a great team and we want that to be normal for us.”

Alvalade skipper praises his side's showing in Estádio da Luz

“Both sides showed intensity and quality, despite what people were saying in the build-up to the game”, said Adrien in a flash interview with radio journalists after his side’s 3-0 derby win.

For the Alvalade skipper, his side set the bar with Sunday’s performance, but the title is still a long way off: “The players set an example. A lot was said before the match, but the players were focused on doing their best. Fortunately we got the best result we could here tonight. It is still too early to be talking about the title, but it is always important to win a derby.”

João Pereira's reaction to Sporting's Lisbon deby win

João Pereira was back in the starting line-up for Sporting’s 3-0 win in Estádio da Luz this Sunday. Speaking with the press at the final whistle, the Alvalade wing-back highlighted the importance of the work being put in by his side on the training pitch.

“We came here to do our job. It was a good win, but it is only worth three points. Our objectives have been set since the start of the season and we worked really hard this week. We came here to prove that we are a great team with a great coach”, said the Portuguese international, adding: “We can’t find motivation in what other coaches say about us. We have to motivate ourselves so we can finish the league in first.”