Benfica-Sporting tickets snapped up

Sporting Clube de Portugal informs that the tickets available at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices for the derby have now solid out.

Benfica-Sporting will kick off at 17h00 on Sunday the 25th of October, in Estádio da Luz.

‘Leões’ com melhor arranque de sempre dos últimos 20 anos

With seven games so far played this season, Sporting is flying high at the top of the I Liga table. Curiously, the team from Alvalade had also tallied 17 point at this stage of the season in the 2013/14 campaign (tem going on to lose against FC Porto 3-1). It is also not the first time that Sporting tops the table after seven games, having shared leadership with FC Porto and Benfica at this stage in 2006/07. However, it is the first time that Sporting sits in 1st with 17 points, courtesy of last weekend’s 5-1 win over Guimarães.

Speaking in an extensive interview, Sporting’s director of football, Octávio Machado, proved to be more than happy with his side’s start to the season.

“You could see right from the start of the season, with us bringing in Jorge Jesus and with the support we had in the Supercup, that we are putting different strategies in place. This season started with some rules that were approved by a majority of clubs, but which the Portuguese Football Association didn’t put into practice and that has contributed to some things which have happened to us.”

Octávio Machado went on to comment on a series incidents and matches which have gone against Sporting already this season. “When we played against Tondela and when we were comfortably ahead, Tondela scored after a foul which should have been given the other way around, an off-side position and a handball in the same play! I also recall the foul by Luisão against an Estoril player which should have been a sending off and a penalty. After that we had João Pereira sent off when he had his hands behind his back, which resulted in a penalty and a sending off. In that same match there was a clear penalty committed on Slimani, but it wasn’t given. Then on matchday three, we played Académica and a penalty was given against us and one wasn’t given for a foul on Slimani. Against Rio Ave we conceded when the player was off-side, on matchday six, Boavista-Sporting, another penalty. I think the best thing to do is for us to reflect.”

Portuguese Cup to be played in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

The Portuguese Cup third round tie between Vilafranquense and Sporting will be played in Estoril's António Coimbra da Mota, kicking off at 17h30 on Saturday the 17th of October.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Sunday's win

Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with his side’s dominating performance against V. Guimarães this Sunday evening.

“It was a good game. João Mário played really well on the right and he has played there a few times with the under-21 team. We were really strong down the right in the first-half and we created chances that unbalanced Guimarães. Everything becomes that much easier when you score, but it was a shame that we conceded. We let our focus when we scored the fifth and we can’t do that. I also want to congratulate the fans. We need them, like any good team does. This win is for the fans and for the president”, opened the Alvalade coach, speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, before speaking about the absence of Bruno de Carvalho from his habitual place on the bench.

“I wasn’t strange, because he was there mentally. We spoke before the game and he spent the morning with the team. The team is really together right now and it is really important that the fans believe in us”, said Jorge Jesus, before revealing some of his tactical thinking: “João Mário has other characteristics compared to Gelson and Mané and that can give more space to Esgaio.”

“A few players have to go on international duty now. It would be better for us to play against Benfica now, but that is how the fixtures are. What matters now is that Ewerton and  Bruno Paulista recover. We are really happy with our start to the season, we won the Supercup and we are at the top of the league.”

William speaks with the press after 5-1 win over V. Guimarães

William rubber stabbed what has been a brilliant return from injury with another dominating performance this weekend, masterminding a 5-1 win over V. Guimarães.

“The team achieved an important objective, which was to win and to play well. Now we will carry on working hard to do the same in our next game”, said the Alvalade midfielder speaking with the press, before responding to a question about the coming Lisbon derby: “We still aren’t thinking about it, because we still have a Portuguese Cup game to come first and we will be focused on that.”

In parallel, William reinforced the idea that problems off the pitch will do little to damage his side’s performance: “We have been working hard, despite what is going on. I also want to thank the fans for their support.”

Sporting breeze past V. Guimarães on I Liga matchday 7

Sporting put in the best performance of the season so far with a 5-1 thrashing of V. Guimarães this Sunday night. Slimani was the encounter’s main instigator, netting a hattrick in what was a brilliant showing all round.

With five changes relative to the side that took on Besiktas mid-week (Esgaio, Jefferson, Adrien, João Mário and Slimani), Sporting dominated right from the off, with William in particular bossing play with a midfield masterclass. Long spells of possession went largely uncontested, as Jorge Jesus’ side smartly went about exploiting the space out wide. In was only a matter of time before the ball was in the back of the net and it was Slimani who obliged, heading in a cross from João Mário.

After quarter of an hour Slimani pulled a fine save out of Douglas, before Teo Gutiérrez headed an effort against the cross bar two minutes later following a Jefferson corner. A second was only a matter of time and it was the Colombian who struck in the 24^th minute, picking up a loose pass from Montoya and rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net.

Despite having netted twice early on, Sporting continued to pressure and push forward. Bryan Ruiz was next to try his luck, tricking his way past two before being denied by Douglas in what was the Costa Rican’s last showing of the night as he was forced off by injury in place of Gelson Martins). Five minutes later, Teo had another chance, after some superb link up play between João Mário and Gelson.

The second-half actually started off with Sporting looking more cautious in attack, but a harsh tackle from Saré on 55 minutes saw Guimarães reduced to 10 men and signalled the start of wave after wave of Sporting attacks. Slimani made it three in the 58th minute following a pinpoint cross from Jefferson, before Adrien scored with a kind deflection following a free-kick on the edge of the area.

A series of set pieces followed for the visitors, while Sporting continued to throw numbers forward. After a decent chance for Gelson in the 78^th minute, only cut out by a past ditch tackle from Josué, Slimani rounded off his hattrick with a simple finish after a driven cross by Jefferson. Sérgio Conceição’s side did grab a consolation in the 82nd minute, but it did little to overshadow what was a brilliant showing from the team from Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting in 1st with FC Porto on 17 points, three ahead of Rio Ave and four ahead of Sp. Braga.

Sporting-V. Guimarães, 5-1

I Liga matchday 7

Estádio José Alvalade, 31.295 spectators

Referee: Rui Costa (AF Porto), substituted in the 52nd minute for Hélder Malheiro

Sporting: Rui Patrício; Ricardo Esgaio, Tobias Figueiredo, Naldo, Jefferson; William, Adrien (captain, Aquilani, 61’); João Mário, Bryan Ruiz (Gelson Martins, 35’), Teo Gutiérrez (Montero, 66’) and Slimani

Coach: Jorge Jesus

V. Guimarães: Douglas (captain); Bruno Gaspar, Josué, João Afonso, Dalbert; Saré, Cafu, Tozé (João Pedro, 62’); Montoya (Licá, 35), Ricardo Valente and Tomané (Ricardo Gomes, 62’)

Coach: Sérgio Conceição

Goals: Slimani (12’, 58’ and 78’), Teo Gutiérrez (24’) and Adrien (60’); Josué (82’)

Cards: Yellow, Adrien (20’), Montoya (32’), Bruno Gaspar (59’), Gelson Martins (67’), Dalbert (75’) and Licá (90+2’). Red, Saré (55’)

Sporting B coach on his side's draw in Famalicão

João de Deus highlighted his side’s ease in creating chances against Familicão this weekend, despite the points being split at the final whistle.

“We took on a quality side. We took advantage of their mistakes and we naturally created chances”, said the Sporting B coach about the first-half, adding: “After that we had to defend a lot, because there wasn’t much we could do with so many fouls, free-kicks and cards. We felt like we could have done more, especially in the second-half.”

Diogo Salomão also spoke with Sporting TV at the final whistle: “We knew that they are a good side who can create chances on the break, but we played well. We took the lead and ended up conceding a goal through a mistake, but we showed a good attitude.”

Sporting B held to draw on II Liga matchday ten

Sporting B were held to a draw in Famalicão this Saturday, on II Liga matchday ten.

In a well disputed first-half but with very few chances on goal, Sporting took the ahead 7 minutes before the break, courtesy of Ryan Gauld.

The hosts pushed forward after the break and began to create problems for João de Deus. The equaliser came on 67 minutes, when Silvério popped up at the far post to covert on a corner.

The result leaves Sporting B in third with 18 points.

André Carrillo

1 - Sporting SAD recognises the right of the athlete André Carrillo to not want to renew his sports employment contract, which is valid until the 30th of June 2016. As it of course the case, Sporting SAD recognizes all of the player’s rights which are protected by law. In that same light, Sporting SAD is aware of its own rights and obligations, which are also enshrined in law. The same rights which offer protection against employees who act in bad faith, who are disloyal and who intentionally damage the club.

2 – Over the past year and a half, Sporting SAD has continuously approached the player André Carrillo and his respective representative with the objective of revising his employment contract.

3 – Various proposals were made by Sporting SAD, which were a reflection of its improving financial situation. Negotiation was always delayed until a time which would be considered more appropriate by the player and his representative.

4 – The successive proposals made by Sporting SAD were always rejected and no form of counter proposal was made, which when occurring successively over time, is evidence of the player acting in bad faith.

5 – This action led Sporting SAD to believe that negotiation would take place, with little more than the timing of his representative’s visits to Portugal needed, when in fact this reasoning was being used against Sporting SAD in order to use up the time of the current contract.

6 – In August this year, the player finally responded with the conditions that he wanted, which were immediately accepted by Sporting SAD and placed in writing to be signed.

7 – With the proposal’s conditions in writing, the player requested the presence of his agent, as he is allegedly not able to read contracts.

8 – Following this request, the player’s agent met with Sporting SAD, strangely without André Carrillo, and the terms of the proposed agreement made by the player and accepted by Sporting SAD were explained.

9 – When, legitimately and again in good faith, Sporting SAD believed that the signing of the agreement would take place, which detailed the exact requests of the player, the agent terminated the meeting because he felt that he needed to talk to the player.

10 – The agent returned with the contract to communicate that the player and his father wanted it to be analysed by lawyers.

11 – This occurred, with the consequential wasting of time, without any response being given to a proposal which had been made by the player himself.

12 – At that time, the player’s agent sent Sporting SAD an email indicating that a proposal would soon be received from a foreign club for the transfer of the player.

13 - Sporting SAD legitimately felt at that time that the player’s agent, and the player himself, were once again wasting time and affirmed that its intention was to renew its contract with the player and not to sell him. Sporting SAD further referred that if a proposal for a certain amount was made for the player, then it would be accepted.

14 – At that time, the player’s agent presented a proposal which honoured the conditions for the transfer of the player to an English club and Sporting SAD accepted it.

15 – Negotiations were aborted due to the fact that the player himself, paradoxically, refused the offer made by his own agent.

16 – These last facts occurred a few hours before the closing of the English transfer window.

17 – After the closure of the transfer window and the player’s participation in his national team, he returned and informed Sporting SAD that he no longer wanted to player for SCP and that he intended to leave for free.

18 - Sporting SAD, registering the disloyal conduct of its player, communicated to its technical team that he should be disciplined and that the issue was being forwarded to its legal department.

19 – At that time, the technical team requested a last attempt from Sporting SAD to reach an agreement. Sporting SAD accepted this and arranged for a meeting with the main coach and the player.

20 – At that meeting, in the presence of the Sporting SAD administration and the coach, the player stated that all he wanted at SCP was conditions that he felt were adequate and that he would renew his contract as soon as his agent was present.

21 – In a new series of negotiations, now with the agent present, the agent stated that the player did not have the courage to personally affirm to Sporting SAD and its coach that he no longer wanted to play for the club, reaffirming the position expressed earlier when he had returned from international duty. André Carrillo placidly listened to his agent’s statement.

22 – At that meeting, in light of the refusal of the player and his agent to make a counter offer, Sporting SAD made a final offer which was substantially improved. With the proposal considered to be highly attractive by the agent, Sporting SAD sent a copy to the agent. The agent then left Portugal to travel to England without giving any notice, allegedly for health reasons.

23 – That final offer was subsequently rejected.

24 – In yet another attempt to find a solution which would satisfy all parties, Sporting SAD presented another option to the player which would permit his transfer in January 2016 for an amount which was determined and agreed with the player, on the condition that Sporting SAD would be compensated if the player was transferred to another Portuguese club.

25 – The player informed that he was in agreement with this proposal and requested the document to read. However, he again went back on his word and refused to sign the document which had been negotiated.

26 – With all options to find a consensual solution apparently exhausted by systematic actions of bad faith by the player and/or his representative, Sporting SAD arranged for a final meeting at 16h30 on the 2nd of October.

27 – After the player’s confirmation to the coach at the end of morning training yesterday that he would be at the meeting with his agent, the meeting was subsequently cancelled by the agent, alleging that there was no chance whatsoever of reaching a solution.

28 – In this context, sporting SAD considers that the attitude of the player and his representative has dragged out the process until a time in which no alternative exists, thereby contributing to the unviability of a transfer to a third club and seriously damaging Sporting, while defrauding Sporting SAD’s legitimate expectations. In this light, the process outlined above should be carefully analysed in order to establish if responsibility can be attributed to the player and his agent.

29 – As such, a disciplinary process is underway and the player has been immediately suspended.

30 – Sporting SAD is now convinced that the sports project which the player wants to be a part of is not our one.

31 – The issue has been forwarded to the legal department in order to establish if responsibility can be attributed to to the player and his agent.

32 – This statement reflects the only official position taken by Sporting SAD at this time relative to this issue.

National squad to face Denmark and Serbia

National coach Fernando Santos has included two Sporting players in his squad for the encounters with Denmark and Serbia, on the 8th and 11th of October respectively.

Rui Patrício and João Mário are the Alvalade duo who will feature, in a squad comprised of 24: Anthony Lopes, Rui Patrício, Ventura; Cédric, Nélson Semedo, Bruno Alves, José Fonte, Luís Neto, Ricardo Carvalho, Eliseu, Fábio Coentrão; Danilo, Miguel Veloso, Tiago, André André, João Moutinho, João Mário; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Danny, Nani, Rafa, Éder and Ricardo Quaresma.

Portugal will host Denmark on the 8th of October at 20h45 in The Braga Municipal Stadium, before travelling to Serbia for a 18h00 (local time) kick off on the 11th.