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Photo by César Santos

"Two more players can break through now"

By Jornal Sporting
28 Jan, 2017

Jorge Jesus confirms the return of Geraldes and Podence and looks ahead to the weekend's action

Opening his Friday afternoon press conference with an analysis of his squad, Jorge Jesus revealed that Francisco Geraldes and Daniel Podence are on their way back to Lisbon after a spell out on loan: "Geraldes and Podence have been authorised to come back. Not because of how we are playing right now, but because they have developed over the last six months and we think they can bring something extra. They are quality players who have the potential to be part of the future of this club. In a squad of 24, a total of 11 players are from our youth system."

Jorge Jesus went on to lend his backing to the current reshaping of the squad and an investment in youth players: "Last year, when we were doing well, nobody accused me of not investing in young players. This season we have already used Rúben Semedo and Gelson Martins a lot and two more players can break through now. Some players have left us this January because they were focused on other objectives and in those cases myself and the board have decided what to do."

Speaking more directly about the weekend's opposition, Jesus proved confident keeping the three points in Alvalade: "Paços de Ferreira are a well balanced team, with objectives different to ours. They are really good from set pieces and we will have to give away to least amount of fouls possible, which will limit their chances on goal. The fans have been great in showing belief in us and I am sure they will be with us tomorrow as well."

Statement: Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD

By Sporting CP
26 Jan, 2017

Lukas Spalvis

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Os Belenenses Futebol, SAD for the reintegration of the player Lukas Spalvis, with the loan agreement for the player having been terminated.

"I am convinced we will get through this"

By Jornal Sporting
25 Jan, 2017

Jorge Jesus speaks in lengthy interview with Sporting TV

Jorge Jesus sat down with Sporting TV this Wednesday for an extensive interview. Here is what the Alvalade coach had to say in full:

"I feel like all Sporting CP fans should be feeling right now. Based on the season we have been having since what happened in Estádio da Luz, Sporting CP has suffered in terms of quality. In the middle of that we had some issues with refereeing. Our fans saw us play a lot of quality football in our first season and we tallied 86 points, which beat the record. I have won the league a few times without that many points."

"We won the Super Cup and we came into this season confident. On matchday 13 and 14 we started dropping points, which was partly our fault. We didn't play as good as we could have against Braga and in the Champions League, but there were also a few decisions which pushed us to a points tally which does not reflect where we should be."

"The main reason for the bad results was refereeing, I have no doubt about that. Even in our last match in Madeira, we won, but the refereeing team didn't let it happen. We scored a third goal, but it turned out to be a negative result due to a decision which was out of our control. Of course there are also technical reasons which have contributed and some players who were fundamental were transferred out, but we made a good start to the season. From there we had to bring in players, who took time to adapt. With some less than brilliant results a lack of confidence took hold. We had a really strong spine in the team with William, Adrien and João Mário down the middle. This year one of those players is not longer with us and that influences how we play."

"These things influence confidence and as soon as you don't win as many games, the fans start asking themselves why the team isn't playing as well as it was. At times where we are in the league has damaged confidence, but that is part of a player's life, as well as mine. We have to work through it, but of course it is harder when you aren't turning in the wins. That is the kind of mental work that we have to do with the players and that starts with the confidence of the fans. It isn't easy and the margin is minimal when you don't win. The fans have to help us though this."

"While it is still possible for us to win the league we will believe, but of course the table is in favour of the team at the top. We will take each game as it comes and I am convinced we will get through this with a bit of teamwork. We will not throw in the towel. We believe in our capability to get to the top and that is what I wanted to say after the match against Marítimo."

Statement: Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD

By Sporting CP
23 Jan, 2017

Agreement to terminate loan of Markovic

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Liverpool FC and the player Lazar Markovic for the termination of the player's loan.

Sporting SAD wishes Markovic the best of personal and professional success.

Photo by José Cruz

"The league table isn't a true reflection"

By Jornal Sporting
22 Jan, 2017

Octávio Machado speaks about recent events on the pitch

Sporting's director for football, Octávio Machado, sat down with the press this weekend to speak about Sporting CP's current form and standing in Liga NOS. Refereeing was inevitably the overtone of his comments, but the Alvalade director did not dismiss the influence of some of Sporting CP's recent performances.

"We aren't hiding from anything, but that doesn't justify the errors that have had a negative impact on us. Yesterday we were closer to the level we want to be at in terms of how we played. We scored third goal, but the linesman, Nélson Moniz, ruled it out. If you feel that your work is being altered, then of course you would not be happy", said Machado about Alan Ruiz's 81st minute strike, adding: "I will say it again: We have not been at the level we should be at in certain matches. Jorge Jesus has said that himself, but we would be in a different situation without these kinds of mistakes. That match in Estádio da Luz was a defining moment, after we had pulled back seven points. The penalties were clear and the Refereeing Council denied what everybody say. Sporting CP contributed to refereeing, namely through defending the use of the video-referee."
 
For Octávio Machado, the answer to Sporting CP's current woes must come on the pitch, starting with Paços de Ferreira in the next Liga NOS fixture: "I would like to see a huge response against Paços. Yesterday nobody could accuse the players of not doing their all and they were frustrated. The league table isn't a true reflection right now."
Photo by César Santos

"We still believe in winning the title"

By Jornal Sporting
21 Jan, 2017

Paulo Oliveira on Saturday's draw against Marítimo

Sporting CP centreback Paulo Oliveira was the player chosen to speak with radio journalists at the final whistle this Saturday, after his side's draw in Madeira.

"We always try and win the three points, but today we just couldn't do it in a stadium where it is always hard to play. We played well, but set pieces put us in a tough spot. We came from behind and we scored a third goal, but all we can do now is keep on putting the work in", said Paulo Oliveira in an interview with Sport TV, continuing: "Results reflect what you do on the pitch and once again we couldn't get the win. We did everything we could today and we are all responsible for it. We have to keep our heads up, because this is our job and we still believe in winning the title."

Photo by César Santos

"We were really close to our usual form"

By Jornal Sporting
21 Jan, 2017

Jorge Jesus highlights his side's improvement in Saturday's draw against Marítimo

Jorge Jesus spoke with the press in a flash interview at the final whistle on Saturday. The Alvalade coach liked what he saw on the pitch, despite a harsh final result.

"It was a good match. Marítimo are a good team, but we were better today than we were against Chaves. We were really close to our usual form. Marítimo were really good from set pieces and that gave them two goals, so we were always chasing the result. We did score a third, but the linesman didn't want to give it. Today I can't point the finger at the players and say they didn't want to win, because they did. Credit to Marítimo, because they played well", opened Jesus, adding: "We have fewer and fewer matches to play and the points gap is growing, which makes it all the more difficult. We have to take each game as it comes and there are still a lot of points to win."

Photo by César Santos

Marítimo, 2-Sporting CP, 2

By Jornal Sporting
21 Jan, 2017

Disallowed goal denies Sporting CP of a deserved three points

Sporting CP were held to a 2-2 draw in Estádio dos Barreiros this weekend, on Liga NOS matchday 18. A disallowed goal for a wrong offside call against Alan Ruiz dictated the final result, after a spirited display which saw Sporting CP come from behind twice.

Jorge Jesus made five changes to his last 11 (Patrício, Schelotto, Zeegelaar, Bruno César and a debut for João Palhinha) and Sporting CP started the encounter well. However, some sloppy passes forced Paulo Oliveira into making a foul and Éber Bessa converted on the resulting free-kick with low shot that wrong footed Rui Patrício.

The early below did little to unsettle Sporting CP and the team from Alvalade continued to pile forward in search of goal, courtesy mostly of some darting runs from Schelotto and Gelson Martins down the right. However, Marítimo largely limited Sporting CP's chances to dead ball situations, but it was precisely from one such incident that the equaliser came, when Bas Dost rose highest to head in from an Adrien Silva cross.

Sporting CP would have been expected to take charge after the equaliser, but it was actually down the other end that the next few opportunities materialised. Dyego Sousa hit Patrício's crossbar in the 31st minute, just before Raúl Silva made the most of yard of space to put Marítimo back into the lead.

The second-half was much of the same, with the hosts relying on the counter-attack. Edgar Costa has two good chances, but Sporting CP grew into the action again after the introduction of Alan Ruiz [on for Zeegelaar]. With Campbell and William Carvalho also on off the bench [for Palhinha and Bryan Ruiz], the team from Alvalade began to up the tempo and Bruno César dragged on a cross back on the hour mark that Gelson did well to control and slot home.

Neither outfit was able to seriously threaten in the dying stages, with the exception of a goal from Alan Ruiz that was wrongly ruled out for offside.

 

Squad to face Marítimo

By Sporting CP
21 Jan, 2017

Jesus announces squad for the weekend's trip to Madeira

Jorge Jesus has named hsi squad list for Liga NOS matchday 18 against Marítimo, kicking off on Saturday at 18h15:

1 – Rui Patrício
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
23 – Adrien Silva
26 – Azbe Jug
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
34 – Beto Pimparel
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
66 – João Palhinha
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Photo by José Cruz

“I trust my players"

By Jornal Sporting
20 Jan, 2017

Jorge Jesus on the weekend's Liga NOS action

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Friday ahead of the weekend's Liga NOS matchday 18 trip to Marítimo (Saturday, at 18h15).

Although a tough challenge, the Sporting CP coach is fully focused on the three points: "The match will be difficult for a few reasons. Firstly, because we are a bit behind in the league and we cannot drop any more points. On top of that, Marítimo are really strong at home. However, we are ready and we know we cannot let more points slip away", opened Jesus, continuing: "I wouldn't say that everything is lost right now, but we have to take on our responsibilities. As a coach, I am responsible for results, but this will not be a season to forget. Every coach goes through bad spells and this isn't the first time it has happened to me. The only way to get out of it is if we all show a bit of confidence, especially the players. We had a superb season last year and we created some big expectations, but obviously the book stops with me. I trust my players to get out of the situation we are in."

To finish, Jesus spoke about president Bruno de Carvalho's visit to the dressing room after the first loss in Chaves: "Presidents go into the dressing room before and after the match, which is completely normal. I couldn't be there and the president usually speaks to me at the end of the match. I wasn't there, so he spoke with the team captains (Adrien Silva and William Carvalho). The president is the head of the club and he has every right to do that, because the coach wasn't there. Our relationship honestly couldn't be better."

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