Daniel Podence sits down with A Bola to speak about his return to Alvalade

Daniel Podence has been making quite the name for himself, but the skillful forward isn't about to relax just yet. Speaking in an interview with the A Bola newspaper, the youngster affirmed his drive to improve and earn his place amongst football's top names.

"Quality has nothing to do with needing to put more or less work in. I always do my best and it isn't because some of my teammates are worth 20 million euros that we will perform differently. I work because that is what we have to do and not because we have to be better than someone else", opened Podence.

For the youngster the League Cup win while on loan with Moreirense was memorable, but his focus is now on Alvalade: "I was really happy to win the League Cup, but also because I am back at Sporting CP. It is always nice to hear the coach say he believes in you and if the coach believes in me then all I have to do is my best."

Podence finished with a comment on Bas Dost and his chase for the European Golden Boot: "Bas Dost encourages us and never has anything negative to say. He has helped me a lot."

Bruno de Carvalho returns to Lisbon after a fruitful visit to Costa Rica

The Alvalade president Bruno de Carvalho touched down in the Portuguese capital this Saturday, following a productive trip to Costa Rica to open a new Sporting Academy School.

"Sporting CP is the first club to open an academy in Costa Rica. It is really important for our strategy and what we are planning to do in Central and South America. We also used the opportunity to meet with the Costa Football Federation and to talk about ladies football, beach soccer and futsal. We also had the chance to make make contact with other Central American countries. It was really interesting and all of the kids who were there really enjoyed it. Firstly for having the opportunity to put on the Sporting CP shirt, but also because they met Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell", opened Bruno de Carvalho, adding: "It is a another academy and another country that we are working directly. They have a lot of promising young players over there and that is really important for us. A club like Sporting CP has to be in Costa Rica, not just because of the brand but also because of the talent there. As a club specialised in training we want to contribute to the development of football in Costa Rica."

The Sporting CP president finished with a word on the Football Talks conference hosted in Lisbon this week: "Football cannot be separated from new technologies...when I started speaking about Video Assistant Referees four years ago nobody listened. Including those who are now going to conferences and saying good things about it. I guess I was right after all, because everyone says football with have technology involved."

A wealth of Alvalade stars on international duty

The emotion of Liga NOS will have to be put on the back burner for a week, as Sporting CP's charges go away in international duty with their respective country.

Bruno de Carvalho travels to San José to open the doors of the latest Sporting Academy School, along with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell

Bruno de Carvalho is in Costa Rica this Monday, to open the latest Sporting Academy School. The Alvalade leader will be accompanied by Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell, who are both in their native territory on international duty. The Alvalade president actually arrived on Sunday, in time to watch UD Carmelita-Limon FC.

Bruno de Carvalho's agenda is as follows:

09h45 – TD+ television programme
10h30 – Canal 7 television programme
13h00 – Sensacion Deportiva radio programme
13h30 – Lunch
15h30 – Kritian Mora radio programme
18h00 – Sporting Academy School official opening
20h30 – Dinner with the president of the Costa Rica Football Association, Alcaide, UD Carmelita and the Wilmer Lopez Academy

Luís Martins keeping his feet on the ground, despite inspiring Sporting CP's recent run of form

Luís Martins sat down the the Sporting Journal this week, reflecting on Sporting CP B's dominating performance against Leixões on Sunday.

"It was a really competitive game against a team that is struggling, like we were a few weeks ago. We didn't completely control everything, but the win came due to our superiority. Leixões reacted well, but once again we showed what we are capable of", said the Sporting CP B coach.

Although having led his side to what is now five straight wins, Luís Martins was careful to ask for calm: "We have shown that we can turn games around, regardless of who we are playing against. That is really important for me and I am really proud to be part of this team to help the lads grow. At the same time we are training up young players, while getting out of a tough situation. I wouldn't say that the team is closer to where we want to be, because it is already built up based on how our football department works. It is important that the lads understand that this is the last stop before going into the senior team and that they aim to turn professional."

Sporting CP B continue spectacular revival to tally fifth straight win

Sporting CP B have turned their revival into five straight wins, this time with Leixões falling victim to Luís Martins' side in a 2-1 win in Estádio do Mar.

Martins has tallied an incredible 16 out of 18 points, opening up a six point difference between Sporting CP B and the relegation zone.

Ricardo Esgaio, Ryan Gauld and André Geraldes were once again brought in as reinforcements and Sporting CP dominated from the off, but it wasn't until the 58th minute that the ball was first in the back of the net. It was Rafael Barbosa who struck, after being set up by Ricardo Esgaio. The Leixões boss Daniel Kenedy responded with the introduction of Bruno Lamas and the substitute leveled on 81 minutes.

The magic of the substitutes' bench wasn't over yet and Jovane Cabral, who Luís Martins had brought on in the 79th minute, took just five minutes to score and secure the three points.

Bas Dost at it again, this time with a brace against Nacional

Just 13 minutes had passed when Bas Dost found the back of the net against Nacional on Saturday afternoon, in front of a packed crowd of 43,167. The final strike came following a corner whipped in by Bryan Ruiz, but the hard work was done by Gelson Martins and Schelotto in the build up, with the speedy double breaking away down the flank to claim the corner.

Nacional had a pair of opportunities in thr 19th and 20th minute through Ricardo Homes and Mezga respectively, but Rui Patrício was untroubled and Sporting CP comfortably controlled proceedings with some blistering pace out wide and precision passing through the middle.

In the Nacional goal Fachini was always going to have a tough afternoon with Bas Dost on the prowl for the top spot in the European Golden Boot standings. On 34 minutes Dost looked to have pushed himself into too tight an angle, but he did the business all the same and blasted into the roof of the net.

Tiago Rodrigues (37') tried to get a goal back for Nacional before the break, but it never really looked likely.

The second-half started with an individual effort from Alan Ruiz (53'), before the quality of the action dropped off in the dying stages. Bas Dost and Podence all had chances just before the final whistle, but the big Dutchman's first-half damage proved enough to claim the three points.

Bryan Ruiz again features as an attacking midfielder, this time in Sporting CP's 2-0 win against Nacional

"I am happy with the win and to have set a goal up. I was playing in a position that isn't usually mine because the coach asked me to step in for Adrien, but we will play wherever we have to", said Bryan Ruiz in a flash interview at the final whistle on Saturday night.

Going on to reflect further on his recent introduction as an attacking midfielder, the Alvalade number 10 added: "I already knew a bit how to play in that position, which made things easier. It is just one more position for me and here I have already played on the left, the right and as a second striker. I enjoyed it and I am ready to do it whenever needed."

Although one of the more experienced players in Jorge Jesus' side, Ruiz is also happy to see the Sporting CP coach introducing new blood: "It is important for Sporting CP to use the lads and we will help them grow with our experience."

Jorge Jesus happy with another Liga NOS three points

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 2-0 win against Nacional this weekend, particularly with what he saw as a dominating first-half performance.

"I enjoyed it. It is always important to win and we scored two goals. As far as the performance goes, we did well until Alan Ruiz came off. After that the quality slipped a bit. In defence we never looked in danger and we controlled the few chances Nacional created. I liked how we played in the first-half, but the substitutions didn't work out for us. I thought that the two lads I brought on would do damage with their pace off the ball, but it didn't work out", said Jesus at the final whistle.

Bas Dost found the back of the net again, but Jesus was clearly frustrated with the Dutchman being denied his hattrick: "Bas Dost really was the cherry on the top of the cake tonight. He scored another two goals. I complained about the offside goal and I want to apologise, because the linesmen saw it clearly. A defender was in line with Bas, but the goalkeeper was behind him so he was offside."

Jorge Jesus sets the stage the weekend's Liga NOS action, with Alvalade's youngsters expected to against feature

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jorge Jesus reaffirmed his confidence in Alvalade's young blood, while stressing the importance of giving the latest batch of Sporting CP talent time to mature.

"Playing for Sporting CP is one thing, playing for Moreirense is another [reference to the return of Daniel Podence and Francisco Geraldes]. We have to be careful with the lads. Gelson Martins had João Mário as an example and when we needed him he stepped up. In relation to Daniel Podence, if anyone believes in him then it is me", opened Jesus.

Nacional are one of the sides who took points of Sporting CP earlier in the season, but the Alvalade is more focused on playing some good football rather than avenging the reverse fixture: "Just like Tondela, Nacional are fighting to stay in this division. Every match is a final for them and that is how they will play tomorrow. Unfortunately for us, they took points off us earlier in the season. We have been playing well recently and hopefully we will get the result and play quality football."

Jorge Jesus finished with a word of praise for Bas Dost, Sporting CP's medical team's work with Adrien and the Alvalade skipper's stand-in, Bryan Ruiz: "We want Bas Dost to finish as the league's top scorer. He can win an individual title, but it will reflect well on the whole team who have helped him. Over the whole season Adrien Silva has been out for four months, but we hope he will be back after the international break and that is down to our medical team. For now I made the right choice with Bryan Ruiz. He played really well against Tondela."