Bruno de Carvalho speaks with L'Équipe on funds

The Sporting president, Bruno de Carvalho, gave an extensive interview with L’Équipe this week, focusing in on one of the hot topics un world football today: funds.

“Why have I declared war on funds? Well, I don't know if you could call it a war. We are fundamentally against the large-scale injection of money into football when we don't know where it comes from. Funds always make a profit, transferring both good and bad players. There is a minimum of three things that we want: to evaluate past and present experiences, so that we can stop football from going down this path without measuring the consequences; to know exactly who the partners of these funds are and where the money comes from; and that it be made clear that funds cannot interfere in the management of clubs in anyway whatsoever", opened the Alvalade leader.

Carvalho went on to warn of the dangers clubs spending beyond their means, fueled by funds: “Funds create a dependency. It is a bit like selling drugs, where your clients start to need more and more. You fall into a vicious cycle: more debt, more funds, more debt. Of course these are good and bad funds, but it needs to be made clear which are which. We can't invest three million euros in a player, only to find out later that we owe fifteen million. When I was elected president, 95% of our players belonged to funds and we were experiencing the worst returns in our history, with debts of 500 million euros. People thought we could survive three months. The following season we qualified for the Champions League again. After cuting our relationship with funds we improved on the pitch and we balanced the books."

Bruno de Carvalho also reflected on Sporting's case with Doyen: "Funds want to make money without taking any risks, but a true partner is one that shares the risks with you. For Doyen to be in partnership with us, they would have to change who is in change or where the money comes from. We are 100% right in the case, but there are a lot of innocent people behind bars and criminals on the street."

Algerian's first strike against V. Guimarães in the running

Slimani's first goal against V. Guimarães, which saw him go on to grab a hattrick in a 5-1 win, is up for nomination for the Liga NOS Samsung Goal of the Month.

You can vote for the Alvalade star at www.partilhamosfutebol.com/votacao.

Alvalade defender wins award for August and September

Domingos Duarte has been named as the Professional Football Players Syndicate Young Player of the Month for the months of August and September.

The Alvalade defender tallied a total of 12.94% of the vote, just 1% ahead of fellow Sporting player Pedro Silva (11,65%).

Jorge Jesus' thoughts on Sunday's win in Arouca

Sporting had to fight hard for the three points on Sunday night, but that was exactly what Jorge Jesus was expecting in what has proven to be a tricky away trip for even the top sides this season.

“We knew it would be difficult. In nine games, Arouca had only lost against FC Porto and they had already taken three points off a team fighting for the title. They are a really well organised team defensively and it isn't easy to score against them. We had to show the mentality of a champion, as well as technical and tactical quality. We had to show heart in the 50-50 balls, which is what we did in the second-half", opened the Alvalade boss in post-match interview, continuing: “We had to show a lot of attitude in the direct confrontations, because Arouca are really aggressive. We didn't have a lot of chances, but we did make some that were easy to finish and we had Arouca under control when they did attack. The most important thing is that we won and that we got the reward for carrying on even with ten men. The lads deserved the win tonight."

Jorge Jesus went on to explain what he asked of his players at half-time and why he introduced Esgaio in place of Jefferson: "At half-time we had to change some things in attack. Arouca are really organised so we couldn't find space for our lads to carry the ball forward. We had to change some positioning and it worked better in the second-half, which was also because Arouca didn't show the same intensity in defence because they were getting tired. Jefferson felt a bit of discomfort at the end of the first-half and I didn't want to aggravate it, so I was forced to being him off. Funnily enough Esgaio was more dynamic down the wing than Jefferson.”

Slimani scores at the death to keep Sporting five points clear

Sporting came away from the Arouca Municipal Stadium with a hard-earned three points this Sunday night, courtesy of a 90th minute strike form Slimani.

It was by no means an easy night's work for the team from Alvalade and right from the off it was made clear that Arouca were looking for upset against a Sporting team completely different to the one that lost in Albania during the week. With both outfits battling hard for possession, there was little to report in the opening 10 minutes other than a cross from João Pereira that the home keeper comfortably plucked out of the air.

Although pegging Arouca back into their own half, Sporting struggled to create chances in the limited space offered up by the hosts, who were happy to sit back and wait for opportunities to break forward. Despite Sporting's dominating pressure, the first shot didn't actually come until the 22nd minute, when João Mário fired straight at the keeper.

With steady build-up play doing little to create chances, Sporting switched to route one, using Slimani as a target man to add extra depth in attack. The change did the trick and João Pereira was able to pick out Teo Gutiérrez in a yard of space down the right, before the Colombian set up Slimani in the 18-yard box, but the big Algerian scuffed his shot. After Roberto pulled a stop out of  Rui Patrício, João Pereira was again the protagonist going forward, finding Teo Gutiérrez for a shot that ended up wide of the target.

It wasn't until near half-time that Sporting managed to string together more clear opportunities, when João Mário floated a ball into the area that Paulo Oliveira headed down and towards goal, only for Bracali to parry over his crossbar with a superb instinctive save. Next to try his luck was Adrien after being picked out by Jefferson, but the Alvalade skipper's header ended up the wrong side of the post.

The second-half got underway where the first had left off, with both sides scrapping for possession in the Arouca midfield. Finding space in the 18-yard box was proving particularly challenging and Sporting soon resorted to efforts from range. João Mário pinged a shot goalward in the 53rd minute, but the final product ended up over the bar. Arouca responded through Ivo Rodrigues from a free-kick, but the eventual attempt on goal did little to trouble Rui Patrício. In response, Bryan Ruiz pulled a cross out of nowhere, but Slimani arrived just a second too late to convert.

Two minutes from time Esgaio crossed into the heart of the box for Montero, but the Colombian was unable to control his first touch and the chance went wanting. Just as it looked to be all over, the game was given a sudden injection of drama, when the Arouca coach Lito Vidigal actually walked into the pitch to complain to the referee (not for the first time over the course of the evening). In response Naldo pushed Vidigal back into touch, before the Arouca coach somehow ended up on the floor. In stepped referee Cosme Machado to show red to both.

A man down and with just seconds remaining, Bryan Ruiz found Montero in the box and the Sporting striker fired a shot against Hugo Basto, but Slimani picked up the rebound and managed to slot past Bracali to secure a well-earned three points that keep Sporting five points clear at the top of the table.

Fabrice Fokobo's reaction to Sporting B's 4-2 win against Penafiel

Fabrice Fokobo was given his 13th consecutive Sporting B start this weekend, going on to complete 90 minutes in a convincing 4-2 win against Penafiel.

Speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, the midfielder stressed the importance of what has been a solid week for his side: "It was important to win another three points. This is a tough league and it important that we keep turning in wins. We did it again today and I am happy to be able to do my part in that. Wins give you confidence and we managed to build on the three points in Oliveira de Azeméis. We are happy with the result."

Sporting B put four past Penafiel to tighten grip on second in II Liga

Sporting B added to the midweek win against Oliveirense with a superb showing against Penafiel this weekend, on II Liga matchday 15.

Penafiel started the afternoon with two corners, but it was Sporting B who first found the back of the net, with a speedy move down the left in the 5th minute by Sacko. Just a minute later the Frenchman could have scored a second after latching on to a ball floated in behind the visiting defence, but Ângelo Meneses managed to divert away for a corner.

Excessive stoppages in the midfield slowed the pace of the encounter and Penafiel managed to hold down the majority of possession, but without really threatening the Sporting B goal. In contrast, João de Deus' side were looking deadly on the counter-attack and soon made it 2-0, when Mama Baldé was brought down in the penalty area for a spot kick that Labyad converted on.

Podence was next to try his luck, pulling a stop out of Coelho, before Penafiel finally created this first chance with 25 minutes on the clock. Sporting B smartly managed proceedings as the half progressed and the scoreboard could well have been kept ticking over, but Francisco Geraldes' chipped effort was clawed off the line.

Penafiel came out stronger after the break and quickly went about building two opportunities through Yero (51') and Ângelo Meneses (55'), but Pedro Silva was on hand to keep Sporting B in front. João de Deus' side continued to do damage on the counter and a minute before the hour mark Francisco Geraldes rounded off some superb dribbling by Podence to make it three-nil.

João Paulo struck back for the visitors in the 68th minute after some confusion in the area, but Sporting B again pushed forward and some brilliant link up play between Podence and Viola put the score well and truly beyond doubt. Penafiel did have time for a consolation goal five minutes before the final whistle, but the three points always looked destined to stay in Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting B in second place in II Liga with 28 points, with only FC Porto B ahead.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 in squad for Sunday's encounter

Jorge Jesus has named a squad of 19 players to travel to Arouca on Sunday, on Liga NOS matchday 10:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck

Defenders: João Pereira, Ricardo Esgaio, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Tobias Figueiredo and Jefferson

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

Forwards: Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani

Arouca-Sporting will get underway at 20h30 on Sunday, in the Arouca Municipal Stadium.

Jorge Jesus expecting his team to respond after Thursday's defeat in Albania

Jorge Jesus warned caution for his side's trip to Arouca this weekend, speaking in a press conference on Saturday afternoon.

“Basically all we have had time to do was arrive, sleep and travel to Arouca. The time we had was more about getting some sleep. It is going to be a hard game, because Arouca have only lost one game in nine and haven't lost any in the last nine. It will be a really competitive and tough game and we will have to be at our best to win, which we have to do if we want to keep the gap at the top of the table", opened the Alvalade coach, adding: "It is nice to be on the back of a good string of results in the league, but it is hard to defend first place. It brings with it a lot of responsibility and we have to learn to live with that now."

Bombarded with questions abut the 3-0 Europa League loss in Albania in midweek, Jesus didn't shy away: “What happened in Albania is behind us now. It was part of an important competition, but our main focus is the match tomorrow. It was a bad night, but that can happen in football. We want to carry on building on the positives, namely us being at the top of the league. When I arrived at Sporting I said we would fight for the league and every competition we are in here in Portugal, which is exactly what we are doing. I accepted the risks and nothing is going to change our plans for this season. In fact, things are going better than I thought they would, because we are in first place and we have already won a title."

To finish, Jorge Jesus spoke about a conversation with the 4th official against Estoril that has been attacking the headlines, as well as recent praise from the Alvalade president, Bruno de Carvalho: "I am really not worried about what happened against Estoril. It was a conversation between me and the 4th official and I said I already knew him, because he had sent me off in Moreira de Cónegos. What I said is only to do with that and everything else is speculation. I was really happy with the praise (from the president) and we all like to hear nice things being said about us. It was him who believed in me and him who signed me, so I feel proud. I know the differences between my players and some others, but for me the best coach in the world is Pep Guardiola."

Braga Football Association referee for II Liga matchday 15

Hélder Lamas, 35, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B ao Penafiel, on II Liga matchday 15.

José Caldeira and Nélson Cunha will act as linesmen.

Sporting B-Penafiel will kick off at 15h00 on Sunday the 8th of November at the Sporting Academy and will be broadcast live on Sporting TV.