Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of visit to V. Guimarães

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Jorge Jesus reflects on draw with Besiktas (1-1)

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press after his side’s draw with Besiktas this Thursday, to reflect on what he saw could have easily been a different result.

“I wouldn’t say we were missing a bit of luck, but we were missing a bit of experience. We had a lot of young lads playing and you can see the difference at certain key moments in this kind of competition. We played really well and it was a brilliant first-half. In the second-half we expected Besiktas to react, but we knew we would carry on creating chances. We didn’t kill the game off, but we were playing against a really good team. The lads deserve a pat on the back for how thy played”, opened the Alvalade boss, adding: “Before the game and looking at the group, I would have said that a draw wouldn’t have been bad, but I am a bit unsatisfied with it now because we could have won.”

Jorge Jesus went on to speak about the individual performances of William and Matheus, who made his senior debut: “William showed his usual quality. He played really well and although he is young he has a lot of experience. I wasn’t expecting him to play as well as he did or for him to play the 90 minutes. Matheus did what he could against a strong team in a hard place to play, but he will develop and I am happy with him.”

Alvalade boss speaks ahead of Thursday's Europa League encounter

Jorge Jesus met with the press this Wednesday night ahead of his side’s trip to Turkey to take on Instanbul, on Europa League Group H matchday two.

“(Besiktas) are a strong team who are in first in the Turkish league. They are a quality opponent who have players who are known in Europe, like Sosa and Mario Goméz. It will be a hard game, but we believe in ourselves and we will play our type of football, without forgetting that our focus is on the league”, affirmed the Alvalade coach in the Turkish capital, before revealing that he may make some changes to his anticipated starting XI, with a difficult encounter with V. Guimarães just around the corner: “Some players will be used tomorrow who weren’t with us against Boavista, because we have a really important match against V. Guimarães and we won’t have time to do anything but recover. I have to think about both matches, so we will rotate the squad.”

Jesus also spoke about the return of William and Ewerton to his list of available players: “Ewerton is with us here in Turkey, because we didn’t have anyone else available to play at centre-back, but he still isn’t at level that William is. William played against Boavista and we will try and give him as many minutes as possible. He is a great player in his position and the team will benefit from his return.”

Jorge Jesus on his side's draw with Boavista

Speaking at the final whistle on Saturday, Jorge Jesus considered that his side did enough to claim the three points.

“We lost the chance to clear into first. We knew we could go clear, but we had to beat Boavista in a difficult game. Offensively, we created three chances which could have given us the win, but we were not effective. Defensively we played well, but we wanted to come away from here with a different result and we did what we could to deserve that”, affirmed the Sporting coach.

Speaking in greater depth about the game, Jesus analysed: “From my point of view there were two situations which should be looked at: the penalty against Paulo Vinícius for handball stopping Slimani from scoring and Slimani’s goal that was ruled out. I didn’t like the refereeing. Boavista kept fouling us to stop the game and they didn’t get many yellow cards, even when it would have been justified. They fought hard, but other than dead ball situations they didn’t get near our goal. They did well in defence and we didn’t know what to do. Having the mentality to win the league and winning every now and then are two different things and we are trying to teach the lads that.”

To finish, Jorge Jesus spoke about the return of William Carvalho: “William has been out for two months and he needs to play to get back up to speed. He could have played regardless of the result. He will play more on Thursday and, bit by bit, we will try and use the quality he has, which is really important for the team.”

Jorge Jesus ahead of Saturday's visit to Boavista

“It was a good week for us, with William and Ewerton coming back”, opened Jorge Jesus in Friday’s pre-match press conference, ahead of what the Sporting coach sees as a tough weekend trip north to take on Boavista

While visits to Estádio do Bessa is never an easy task, the Alvalade boss is looking to build on recent results: “After a win, things always go that bit better, but we are going to take on a good team who are recovering well. They are a team with a long history and it will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Boavista throw everything they can at you, but we are ready.”

Jesus also commented on his possible squad for tomorrow: “William is included and he is recovering quicker than Ewerton. Thing could change tomorrow, but I will decide tomorrow. His (William) characteristics will fit into the way we play. Good players get into any team.”

The Sporting coach also spoke about Fredy Montero’s recent scoring form, as well as Gelson Martins’ spell with the senior squad and the inclusion of Matheus Pereira: “The lads win their place during the week and on the pitch, which goes for those who normally play and for those who are coming in for the first time. It is good to know that we have two players like Teo and Montero, who are both quality players for both the team and the squad. Gelson Martins has been playing well and he is a young lad with a lot of potential, just like Mateus. We believe in their potential and they will get their chance. We are really happy with Gelson.”

Boavista-Sporting will kick-off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio do Bessa, Porto.

Jorge Jesus reflects on another three I Liga points

“It was hard to win against a side that defended well”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match press conference after his side’s battling victory against Nacional on Monday night.

For the Sporting coach, the key to unlocking the three points was some calm nerves in the closing stages: “We never showed anxiety and that it why we scored. Only a team that keeps their calm can make the difference when it matters. In the first-half we had trouble finding space. Montero was important to remedy that.”

Reflecting on the win, Jesus added: “You have to battle to win. There are no easy games and that is why we are at the top of the table. It was important to win and we want to fight for the title until the end. The lads deserve a pat on the back for playing as a team like they did. To win the league you have to suffer sometimes and the fans really got behind us.”

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on hosting of Nacional

Jorge Jesus is expecting his side to put Thursday’s Europa League loss to Lokomotiv Moscow squarely behind them, starting with Monday night’s hosting of Nacional.

“I am not expecting it to be easy. We have to play at the level we have been at offensively and a bit better in defence compared to our last game, because we want to win. If we want to stay at the top of the table, we have to win”, opened the Alvalade coach, guaranteeing that his side have shaken off last week’s setback: “Of course you aren’t happy when you lose, but what matters is that we have understood what was wrong in defence. When you are at this stage of the season, in the middle of several competitions, you don’t have that much time to change tactics and you have to focus on getting the players in shape for the next match. Our main focus is the league and we want to stay in first, which starts with Nacional tomorrow.”

Jesus also stressed that Sunday’s encounter between FC Porto and Benfica will in no way effect his players: “What matters is that if we win tomorrow, then we will still be in first. What happens between FC Porto and Benfica doesn’t make a difference. We have to focus on our own match.”

Asked to reflect on his side’s solid form outside of Alvalade this season, the sporting coach added: “We have played more games away and won all of them. At home we only didn’t beat Paços de Ferreira. What I want is the players to show class and power, just like they have been doing. We don’t want to slip away from the top of the table and to make sure we don’t we have to win tomorrow.”

Jorge Jesus also spared a few words for Sporting B star Matheus Pereira, who have been working with the senior squad. “He is a young player with a lot of potential and who fits in with the team. We believe in him, just like we believe in Gelson. He could come into the team at any time, but he is still developing”, said Jesus before finishing on the recovery of William Carvalho and Ewerton after long spells out through injury: “They are back in full training now, but they have been out of action for around two months. Clinically they are 100%, but physically, technically and tactically they aren’t, so we will work with them during the week.”

Sporting-Nacional will kick-off at 21h00 on Monday the 21st of September, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's 3-1 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow

“Sporting lost against a more experienced team”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match press conference on Thursday night.

Reflecting on his side’s 3-1 loss, the Alvalade boss noted: “We didn’t do very well defensively. Lokomotiv created problems for us on the counter-attack. The lads who haven’t played that much did well and I am happy with the choice. If you asked me if I would do the same again, then I would. I know very well what our objectives are. We did what we could to win today and nothing is decided yet.”

Alvalade boss in Europa League pre-match press conference

Jorge Jesus shared his thoughts on this year’s Europa League opener in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. For the Alvalade coach, there is no hiding from what will likely prove to be a tricky Group H campaign.

“This group has three really balanced sides: Sporting, Besiktas and Lokomotiv. The Russians are strong with some well-known players and they are in second in there league. We are expecting problems, but we will be ready for them”, opened Jesus.

Asked if he plans to make some changes to his squad to rest tired legs and a possible pairing of Aquilani in the midfield with Adrien, Jesus said: “It isn’t about resting players. We will choose the right 11 for each particular game, taking into account how the players are. Sporting has a squad that allows us to do that, whether it be due to tiredness, injury or options. Aquilani didn’t play the pre-season with us, so it was important for him to play in Vila do Conde. He played for more time that I thought he would, but he responded well.”

To finish, Jesus spoke about his side’s chances of going on an extensive European run: “I think that the Europa League is getting harder every year. To reach the final you have to play teams who could be in the Champions League, but I believe that Sporting has the quality to go far.”

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.”