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.”

Jorge Jesus on his side's win against Académica

Jorge Jesus proved satisfied with his side’s 3-1 win over Académica this Sunday, particularly after a difficult mid-week Champions League in Moscow.

“This game, like the one against Paços de Ferreira, was one that I thought would be dangerous because it was after a Champions League match in the middle of the week. Competitions like that always take a bit out of the players physically and psychologically, but we got over that hurdle and are still in in the top places in the league, which is important for me at the start of the season”, opened the Alvalade coach, adding: “It could have been an easier game, but once again the referee put our opponent back in the game with a penalty decision. We won the three points and that is all that matters. In this league no points are easy to win.”

Slimani was brought down in the area for what looked to be a clear penalty, but the afternoon’s referee, Bruno Esteves, waved away the appeals: “It is nothing to do with us complaining about persecution. What we are taking about are decisions which have been taken by referees which have gone against Sporting. I believe it isn’t intentional, but we still feel it. It is happening in almost every game, but it isn’t persecution.”

Sporting’s third goal of the evening was scored by Aquilani from the 12-yard spot, after Adrien had missed a penalty of his own shortly before. “We have several players who can score penalties and I pick who takes them. Adrien knows he is the priority, followed by Aquilani, Slimani and Teo, but with the pressure off missing, it was best that Aquilani took that one”, finished Jesus, commenting on the Italian being given the call up to the penalty spot instead of Adrien.

Jorge Jesus after his side's loss in Moscow

Jorge Jesus met with the press after his side’s 3-1 loss on Wednesday night. The Alvalade boss opened by conceding that his side let their grip on the game slip, before going on to elaborate on his choice of starting line-up.

“Sporting were better in the first-half. We played with quality, we controlled the game and we created dangerous opportunities. We were winning 1-0 at half-time without CSKA having created any problems for us. We did the hard hard part and had the game under control at half-time, but we didn’t know how to manage the second-half. For the first 45 minutes Adrien, Aquilani and João Mário controlled the midfield. In the second-half CSKA started with more possession and it was Musa who did the damage. I thought the game would to extra-time and then I would have made changes, but at the time there was no point in changing anything”, commented Jesus.

The Sporting coach went on to speak about the choice to leave Slimani on the bench: “In the first-half, with three midfielders, we controlled the midfield. Not only did Teo score, but we were winning at half-time. When Teo started to burn out a bit I put Slimani on so that we kept up the pressure in attack. I thought the game would go to extra-time and I still had two more substitutions I could make, but the third goal took us out of it. There were incidents in both legs that determined the final result. Here Slimani made it 2-2 and in Lisbon we have at least one penalty that was waved away. The ball didn’t go out of play and the assistant referee, who couldn’t see from where he was, only signalled when the ball was in the back of the net. Only he knows why he ruled out that goal. We were clearly disadvantaged.”

To finish, Jesus accepted that failure to qualify for the Champions League is a tough blow, but affirmed that his side will now move its attention to domestic silverware: “Financially, the Champions League was relevant, but we still have important objectives in Portugal. Our main objective is the league.”

Sporting coach speaks with the press after Supercup win

“The winner tonight is Sporting and the players”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match interview, after leading his side to an eighth Supercup with a 1-0 win over Benfica.

For the Alvalade boss, there is no doubt that his side earned their silverware. “It isn’t easy to get the team playing like they did in just five weeks and it is all down to the intelligence of the players. We were the best team throughout the 90 minutes and we had the most chances. We scored another goal, but it was ruled out”, affirmed Jesus, adding: “ Benfica was scared of Sporting and that is down to how we started the game. I felt like Benfica was afraid and Sporting was more of a team. The players and the fans deserve to be congratulated.”

Asked if he will be bringing the national championship title to Sporting this season, Jesus commented: “Any Sporting coach has to play for the tittle. Saying things like ‘we are going to try’ don’t wash with the history that this club has and we have to go for it.”

Alvalade boss speaks with the press ahead of Sunday's Supercup encounter

“Both sides want to win and we will see who is the better side”, opened Jorge Jesus in a press conference on Saturday, setting the stage for Sporting’s Supercup encounter with Benfica in Estádio Algarve.

“It is a final between two rivals and we are all aware of how important this game is. We have prepared ourselves as well as we could during the pre-season. Only the best teams reach this match and it is a good sign for Sporting to be involved”, reflected the Sporting coach.

Questioned about how his new-look side is progressing, Jorge Jesus proved happy: “It isn’t the same thing to arrive at a club and try and implant an idea. With different ideas, you also have to work in a different way, so we have to accept that things won’t go as good as I want them to sometimes. However, I am happy to be working with some very intelligent players, which helps a lot. We are a club with national prestige and we want to do our best to win the Supercup.”

Asked for his thoughts on Sunday’s opposition, Jorge Jesus added: “Benfica is champion and their players have won seven trophies out of eight, but being favourite doesn’t give you the right to win. We are feeling confident that we have the capacity to play in a final against a team like Benfica.”

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's 2-0 win against Roma

Jorge Jesus was evidently pleased with his side’s 2-0 win over Roma this Saturday, in toughest test of the pre-season campaign so far.

“Today we played against the team that Finished second in Italy and they have some great players. Today Sporting reacted well and I was some interesting things”, opened the Alvalade boss, before responding to a question on potential transfer activity: “The squad is in training and will be until the 31st of August.”

Jorge Jesus sits down with the press in Cape Town

The Cape Town Cup was officially presented in the Table Bay Hotel this week. Speaking with a crowd of gathered journalists, coach Jorge Jesus shared his thoughts ahead of the start of the competition.

“We have high expectations. We have the honour of being part of this tournament and it will help us carry on our pre-season development. We will treat this competition as one that has a great future. We are really proud to be here”, said the Sporting coach.

Meanwhile, Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sá, who is himself a Sporting fan, affirmed that he is expecting a good match on Friday: “It will be another challenge for a young team like ours. We want to carry on our preparations and we are expecting a good match.”

Crystal Palace and SuperSporting United coaches Alan Pardew and Gordon Igesund also proved excited with the tournament, setting out their objective of facing Sporting in the final.