Adrien reflects on season so far and the importance of the Alvalade youth system

Sporting skipper Adrien Silva gave shared an extensive interview this week, talking about the Alvalade youth system, as well as what has been a fantastic season so far for the talismanic captain.

The Sporting midfielder proved particularly proud of a recent study released by the Portuguese Football Federation on call-ups to the national under-15 to under-19, under-20 and under-20 squads, which put Sporting ahead of the rest of the pack: "Sporting always has been one of the best youth systems in the world and the study is fair recognition of the work being doing at the Academy. In my case, I arrived there when I was 12 and I went through the whole youth system at the club, so you I can say I learnt to become a man and a player here. I am really happy with the study. I have been in teams that have won national championships at under-15 up to under-19 and then I made by debut for the senior team when I was 18. It was also really important to spend time away, where I picked up experience and I am a better player today because of it. All I am missing is winning the senior title, after the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup."

In relation to the season so far, Adrien affirmed his side's confidence in turning in another win after a battling victory against Académica: “Rio Ave are one of the good sides in our league and that is why they are towards the top end of the table. They play some good football and they don't just look to defend. If that will make it easier for us, well I don't think you can look at it like that. Sporting always goes for the win against whoever we are playing against and it is down to us to put into practice what we have been doing during the week."

The Sporting number 23 also went on to highlight the importance of the fans this year in Sporting's title charge: “Both at home and away, the fans have been with us and they were again against Académica. They were crucial for us turning the game around. We let a goal in early, but we felt the fans with us and that is really important for us to carry on taking each game as it comes and to win the title. We are up there fighting for it! It is us that got us where we are now, in a fight that was only between two teams until last year!"

Sales begin on Tuesday

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 21, between Sporting and Rio Ave, will go on sale on Tuesday the 2nd of February, as follows:

STAND A

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

STAND B

Central – 15€ for Club Members and 25€ for fans
Lateral – 10€ for Club Members and 20€ for fans
Goal End – 7€ for Club Members and 15€ for fans
Under-23/ Senior – 7€ for Club Members
Anti-Crisis – 5€ for € for Club Members
Under-11 – 3.5€ for Club Members

SALES POINTS

ESTÁDIO JOSÉ ALVALADE TICKET OFFICES

- 2nd to the 7th of February: from 10h to 20h

- 8th of February: from 10h until half-time

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.sporting.pt
- Payment methods available: Multibanco, VISA and Mastercard
- Multibanco only available up to 24 hours before kick-off
- PDF tickets: delivered to your email (can be printed in black and white on A4)

STADIUM REGULATIONS

- Entry prohibited to children under the age of 3

- Children over the age of 3 (inclusive) require a ticket

- Under-11 Member ticket: from 3 years of age (inclusive) to 11 years of age and valid for any sector of the stand

- Under-23 Member ticket: from 11 years of age (inclusive) to 23 years of age, with different prices for stand A and B

- Senior ticket: from 65 years of age (inclusive) with different prices for stand A and B

- Non-renewed special seats have preference up to 72 hours before kick-off

- Fan tickets purchased on matchday are subject to a €3 tax

- Match included in all 2015/2016 Gamebox packages

- Member fee applicable: January 2016

 

FAMILY TICKET

- All sectors in North Goal End – Stand A and B

- Family of 3 (Member + Adult + Under-11): 21€

- Family of 4 (Member + Adult + Under-23 + Under-11): 25€

- Additional tickets for Family of 4 option (maximum of 2): Adulto (10€) and Under-23 (5€)

- Members with a Gamebox can use this promotion (replacing their usual seat)

- Member Category B can purchase this ticket for Goal End Stand B

 

ANTI-CRISIS TICKET

- Sector A9 + A11 (limited to 723 tickets) for the special price of 5€

- Exclusively for Members with fees paid up to date

Jorge Jesus on his side's win in Vila do Conde

Jorge Jesus was happy with another three points this Sunday, keeping his side at the top of the I Liga table.

“It was a difficult game like we thought it would be and it isn’t easy to win here. We played really well in the first-half. While the lads were relaxed we were really aggressive both in attack and defence. After that we have Rio Ave too much space and it made it harder for us, particularly down the left. We conceded a goal that we really didn’t have to, but we came close to making it 3-1 as well. Our objective was the three points and we got them”, opened the Alvalade coach in a post-match press conference.

Jesus went on to reveal some of his technical decisions: “I felt we were buckling a bit down the left and with João Mário it got a bit worse. After that, with Mané there, we sorted the problem about and got forward again. Carrillo and Bryan struggled a bit at the end. Sporting, Rio Ave and the referee deserve a well done for this game.”

Adrien, who scored Sporting’s first with a first-half penalty, also highlighted the quality of side’s performance: “It is always hard to come here, but we did well. Rio Ave didn’t create any clear chances. We didn’t have that much possession, but we controlled the game and we could have scored at the end as well.”

Sporting maintain grip on top spot with three points in Rio Ave

Sporting claimed an important win at the traditionally difficult Rio Ave this Sunday evening, on I Liga matchday four. The result keeps Sporting tied for 1st position with FC Porto, on 10 points.

The story of the encounter was eventually written in the first-half, with Sporting finding the back of the net twice before the break. First it was Adrien, striking from the penalty spot after Wakaso was adjudged to have made contact with the ball with his hand in the 10th minute. Sporting smartly went about controlling proceedings, while Rio Ave were limited to just a single opportunity, coming in the 36th minute when Marvin hit the post. Three minutes later, a cross by Jefferson lingered dangerously in the box and Slimani capitalized to make it 2-0.

The big Algerian could have made it three at the restart, but he drove his shot at Cássio’s body, before Rio Ave pulled a goal back through Yazalde after some confusion in the Sporting backline. However, the hosts did little to get forward for the rest of the evening, while Sporting came close to securing a more comfortable scoreline through Slimani, João Mário, Carrillo and João Pereira before the final whistle.

Jorge Jesus talks with the press ahead of the weekend's visit to Rio Ave

A Sporting on par with the team that put three past Académica is what Jorge Jesus expects to see for Sunday’s visit to Rio Ave, on I Liga matchday 4.

Speaking with the press in the weekend’s pre-match press conference, the Alvalade boss affirmed: “Rio Ave are traditionally tough opposition. They are even harder to play against at home and they are well drilled by a coach who has been with them for a few years now. It will be a hard game, like they always are in the Portuguese league. Sporting will have to be up for it like we were in Coimbra if we are going to win the three points.

Asked if any tired legs are of concern following the international break, Jesus proved settled: “We have to be ready and the lads are used to it. The most important thing is that noone picked up an injury. Of course the players lose a bit of the routine we work on while they are away and some recover quicker than others, but that is obvious and I will take decisions based on that.”

With Sporting playing on Sunday evening, the Alvalade side have both the blessing and curse of already knowing this weekend’s other results. “We have made it clear that we want to be at the top of the league and to fight for the title. This is a risky game, but they all are. Our competition has already played and won, but that is going to happen a lot more times this season and it doesn’t worry me.”