João Pereira happy with Sporting's first pre-season win

João Pereira, who was rested for Wednesday's encounter against Monaco, was given a start against Nyonnais this Thursday and the wing-back obliged with Sporting's second goal in a 3-1 win.

“It is always good to win in the pre-season and it is always better to fix mistakes by winning instead of losing. In the first-half I thought we played well, although we missed a few opportunities. In the second-half we weren't as good, but we won and we can still improve a lot", said Pereira in a post-match interview, adding: "We have 29 players here in the squad and any one of us could be in the team. We are fighting for places and the more competition, the better. I am here to fight for my place as well and then the coach will decide. The new players are taking things on board bit by bit and we will improve."

João Pereira eager to get the new champaign underway

The pre-season campaign is normally a tough spell for any player after a long break, but not for João Pereira, with the wingback in great shape and eager to get the action underway.

“I was missing this, missing being with the lads for breakfast, for lunch...it is something you get used to and you miss it during the holidays. Thank fully the new season is starting", said the defender after his medial exam this week, adding: "We want to be champions and we will play in every competition to win."

João Pereira at the final whistle on Friday

João Pereira spoke briefly with the press at the final whistle on Friday night.

“It wasn't the result we wanted. Playing at home and being in first place, we wanted to secure our position. We didn't start well and we had a player sent off. After that we did better in the second-half and we thought we could turn the result around. It happens, but it is two points we have dropped", said the Portuguese international, adding: "We have shown that we can win the league and it isn't one bad result that will put us off. we are still in first and we believe in what we are doing."

Jorge Jesus and João Pereira ahead of Thursday's encounter in the Russian capital

Jorge Jesus was with the press in the Russian capital this Wednesday afternoon, sharing his thoughts ahead of Thursday's visit to Lokomotiv Moscow.

Squad rotation has certainly been one of the predominant themes so far this season in the Sporting manager's Europa League starting line-ups. Asked if is likely to again make wholesale changes to his side on Thursday, Jesus proved relaxed: "The eleven that I put out tomorrow will be the one that I think is the best for this match and for the future. I have various objectives to meet and it is me who decides. If I think that the young lad Daniel [Podence] should play, then he will even if it is for the first time. That doesn't mean we that Sporting won't be going for the win."

“The match tomorrow will be important, just like they all are in the Europa League and especially in this case because we need a win to qualify. We will be taking on a tough team, who are normally underestimated. The top four teams in the Russian league are really strong and are at the same level as the top teams in Portugal, including Sporting", added Jesus, going on to again speak about his likely teamsheet: "If you look at how I have taken decisions with the team, you see that I will pick the best possible team for this game and for future games. The choice is mine and I am not going to hide from that."

In relation to Thursday's opponent, Jorge Jesus brushed off any comparison between Lokomotiv and CSKA, before thanking Manuel Fernandes for his praise of his side: "I won't analyse Lokomotiv with CSKA, because they are two different teams. What I will say to Manuel Fernandes is that he obviously knows his team and Sporting team really well. He was being nice and I thank him for that. We are trying to get Sporting back onto the right level in Portugal and abroad, but we have our priorities and they are the national competitions. That doesn't mean we won't do our best in the Europa League, although it isn't our main focus."

João Pereira was also on hand to speak with the press and the Alvalade wing-back followed the same logic as his coach speaking before him: "It will be an important match and the only result worth anything to us is the win. We know what we are playing for and we are focused. It will be a hard match against a quality side, but we also know what we are capable of."