Jorge Jesus reaffirms his confidence in his youngsters against an unpredictable Arouca side

Speaking in his pre-match press conference this Saturday afternoon, coach Jorge Jesus guaranteed the continuation of his policy of giving time on the pitch to his young players, going on to explain the process behind the adaptation of Alvalade's latest generation of superstars: "I see the development of Matheus Pereira as the same as I am doing with Daniel Podence, Gelson Martins, Rúben Semedo, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha and Francisco Geraldes. It is a strategy that we have built up based on the quality of the young players Sporting CP produces. If a team has quality young players then it has to be highlighted, which is what we are doing with Matheus. He played a few times last year, but we need to carefully control his development."

Arouca are the next Liga NOS challenge to Sporting CP's unbeaten run of six games, while the weekend's hosts have gone six without a win, resulting in the replacement of Manuel Machado for Jorge Leitão. "Arouca are looking to stay in the league and we have gone a few games without winning. We want to carry on putting the pressure on our rivals. All I can really do is look at Arouca individually, because technically I don't know as they are on their third coach this season. I don't know what will happen, but Arouca are a quality side. We will have to keep the pressure up", said Jesus, also touching on the return of players from international duty: "The lads who arrive hack now are always a bit tired and we have a few in that situation. We had a look at the squad on Friday and did a bit of work. The most important thing is that no one picked up an injury."

Jorge Jesus finished with his opinion of the transfer market and this weekend's encounter between SL Benfica and FC Porto: "If we could be sure that certain players would leave at the end of the season, then of course that effects the structure of the team, like it did last year. Last season Sporting CP lost three players who scored 55 goals between them: Slimani, João Mário and Teo Gutierrez. Maybe nobody remembers that. Developing players and then maybe losing them is part of the game, but of course I don't like it. However that is the reality for Portuguese teams...Honestly the result between Benfica and Porto doesn't matter, but it won't benefit us anyway."

Arouca vs. Sporting CP

When Arouca came back from the summer break, the fans' expectations were understandably high after beating Heracles in the Europa League and nobody expected such a tough campaign domestically. However, Arouca will come into the weekend's hosting of Sporting CP on the back of six straight loses, with Manuel Machado unable to claim a single point and the former youth team coach Jorge Leitão being drafted in.

Just six matches ago things were looking stable in the league, with Arouca in 10th place. However, now currently in 13th a tricky hosting of Sporting CP is on the cards.

Arouca have particularly struggled against the Liga NOS top-6, so far losing to FC Porto (0-3 and 4-0), Benfica (1-2 and 3-0) and Sporting CP (3-0). Arouca did manage to get a point out of Sp. Braga and went a step further with a win against Marítimo. History is on Sporting CP's side going into this one, with the team from Alvalade having tallied nine wins in nine encounters between the two. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Arouca managed just a single shot on target, along with 31% of possession.

The young forward has plenty of potential and has so far netted on five occasions this season. Dangerous on the break with his movement, González has also set up four goals for his teammates.

It is difficult to assess how Jorge Leitão will deal with his new role with the senior team, particularly having taken over following a series of six loses. Not a lot of changes should be expected for the hosting of Sporting CP this weekend.

Bas Dost sits down the with Dutch press to reflect on his time at Alvalade

Bas Dost spoke with the Dutch press this week about his experience in the Portuguese capital so far, reflecting on everything to his brilliant form and Jorge Jesus' influence.

"I have never had a coach who knows so much about what I can and can't do. Jorge Jesus knows me inside out and he knows how to convince the lads to play in a way that will get the best of my characteristics. I get exactly the passes that I want. If Jesus didn't have such an important role at the club then I wouldn't be here, because Wolfsburg had already refused two offers. Then the Wolfsburg president said he had another offer, from a club with fantastic coach. I took the chance, but I am scoring the goals and that is down to the coach", said Dost.

Speaking with Dagblad van het Noorden, the Dutch striker drew a comparison between Burno de Carvalho and Wolfsburg's Francisco Javier Sanz: "The president is almost always in our training sessions here. All that is missing is him actually leading our sessions, because he is there for everything else. He is on the substitutes' bench and the fans re-elected him in record numbers. I never actually saw the Wolfsburg president, except at our Christmas party."

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."

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."

Jokanovic's side looking to find form and escape the relegation zone

It hasn't exactly been a typical season for Nacional. The Madeira based team are generally comfortable in the middle of the table and have even on occasions pushed for a place on the European stage. However and despite currently sitting in 17th, with only Tondela to the rear, Jokanovic's Nacional are on the up and have lost only two in the last seven.

The arrival of Adriano Facchini, Filipe Gonçalves, Zequinha and Aristeguieta have brought in some extra depth to the squad and a recent 7-0 loss to FC Porto was a harsh reflection of the work Nacional have been putting in. Despite the improvement in form, Nacional have let in the second most goals in the league (29).

Down the other end of the pitch, Nacional can boast an impressive average of 12.1 efforts on goal (Sporting CP has an average of 12.7), although only 3.2 are on target.

Looking at Jokanovic's strengths and weaknesses ahead of Saturday's fixture, Nacional have only won once in league encounters in Alvalade (42, in 2005), making Sporting CP the understandable favourite to take away the three points.

The 48 year old Serbian actually players for Nacional, before going on to manage the youth team and senior team on two occasions before his current spell.

The experienced 34 year old made name for himself during four seasons with Gil Vicente. He has let in 13 goals in seven games, but that tally is reduced to 8 if we discount the seven against FC Porto.

Lukas Spalvis

The player Lukas Spalvis is current following a specific training programme focused on recovering fitness.

The player is expected to return to training within 10 days.

Sporting CP Clinical Department