Adrien on Sporting's pre-season campaign and transfer rumours

Adrien made his first pre-season appearance this Saturday with a dominating showing against Wolfsburg.

"It was an important match to get us up to speed. Even the lads who came on in the second-half did well. After such a long break it is always hard to come back, but that it what we are doing", said the Alvalade skipper in a flash interview at the final whistle, adding a word on transfer rumours floating around: "The same thing happens every year, it is part of being in football. Of course we want to keep the best players here and the club knows what to do."

Adrien finished with a response to a question on João Mário: "João feels good here and everyone likes him. Everything else is up to him and Sporting. Just like João, I am happy here as well. People making bids is part of the profession, but I am happy here."

Patrício, Adrien, William Carvalho and João Mário in training

Sporting's quartet of Euro 2016, Rui Patrício, Adrien Silva, William Carvalho and João Mário, were out on the training pitch this Wednesday, after a well-earned break.

Patrício, Adrien and William were in Alvalade for the presentation match against Lyon at the weekend, however only Patrício saw action.

The four give Jorge Jesus extra options ahead of Saturday's Five Violins Trophy hosting of Wolfsburg in Alvalade, with Sporting looking to win the trophy for the 5th time.

Rui Patrício, João Mário, Adrien Silva and Slimani all named from the Portuguese League

Sporting dominates the UEFA Portuguese League 2015/16 team named this week, on the institution's official website.

A total of four Sporting players feature from Jorge Jesus' squad: Rui Patrício, João Mário, Adrien and Slimani.

2015/16 XI in full: Rui Patrício (Sporting); Maxi Pereira (FC Porto), Miguel Layún (FC Porto) and Jardel (Benfica); Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Adrien Silva (Sporting), João Mário (Sporting), Rafa Silva (SC Braga) and Nico Gaitán (Benfica); Jonas (Benfica) and Islam Slimani (Sporting).

Sporting CP with two names in Sports Journalist Association list

João Mário and Adrien are included in a list of five players shortlisted for the Sports Journalist Association's 2016 Player of the Year Award. Also in the running are André André, Jonas and Rafa.

Sporting CP also had two players in the list for Revelation of the Year, namely Gelson Martins and the on-loan Iuri Medeiros. In the list for Ledman LigaPro player of the year, Sporting B's Francisco Geraldes is in the running along side André Silva, Ewerton, Pedrinho and Platiny.

Voting will take place on the 29th of April, with winners announced on the 2nd of May.

Fernando Santos names squad for Belgium and Bulgaria friendlies

Sporting CP dominate Fernando Santos' squad for two friendlies against Belgium and Bulgaria, in a squad list issued this week.

Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva and João Mário will all feature against Bulgaria on the 25th of March in Leiria, before the Portuguese take on Belgium on the 29th of March in Brussels.

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dynamo Zagreb) and Rui Patrício (Sporting CP)

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Cédric and José Fonte (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient), Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco) and Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)

Midfielders: Adrien Silva, João Mário and William Carvalho (Sporting CP), André Gomes (Valência), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) and Renato Sanches (Benfica)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Danny (Zenit), Éder (Lille), Nani (Fenerbahçe), Rafa (SC Braga) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)

Paulo Oliveira, Adrien and Bruno Paulista

Sporting's medical department has released the following update:

Paulo Oliveira: muscle injury to the right thigh – specialised training

Adrien: injury to the right knee and thigh – in treatment

Bruno Paulista: injury to the right thigh – treatment

Adrien Silva

In compliance with the information obligations outlined in article 248 n.º 1 a) of the Market Securities Code, the Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD (Sporting SAD) Administration informs that the athlete Adrien Sébastien Perruchet da Silva will represent Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol SAD until the 2019/2020 season, with an additional optional season and a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00 (forty five million euros).

Lisbon, 8th of February 2016

The Administration

Adrien reflects on season so far and the importance of the Alvalade youth system

Sporting skipper Adrien Silva gave shared an extensive interview this week, talking about the Alvalade youth system, as well as what has been a fantastic season so far for the talismanic captain.

The Sporting midfielder proved particularly proud of a recent study released by the Portuguese Football Federation on call-ups to the national under-15 to under-19, under-20 and under-20 squads, which put Sporting ahead of the rest of the pack: "Sporting always has been one of the best youth systems in the world and the study is fair recognition of the work being doing at the Academy. In my case, I arrived there when I was 12 and I went through the whole youth system at the club, so you I can say I learnt to become a man and a player here. I am really happy with the study. I have been in teams that have won national championships at under-15 up to under-19 and then I made by debut for the senior team when I was 18. It was also really important to spend time away, where I picked up experience and I am a better player today because of it. All I am missing is winning the senior title, after the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup."

In relation to the season so far, Adrien affirmed his side's confidence in turning in another win after a battling victory against Académica: “Rio Ave are one of the good sides in our league and that is why they are towards the top end of the table. They play some good football and they don't just look to defend. If that will make it easier for us, well I don't think you can look at it like that. Sporting always goes for the win against whoever we are playing against and it is down to us to put into practice what we have been doing during the week."

The Sporting number 23 also went on to highlight the importance of the fans this year in Sporting's title charge: “Both at home and away, the fans have been with us and they were again against Académica. They were crucial for us turning the game around. We let a goal in early, but we felt the fans with us and that is really important for us to carry on taking each game as it comes and to win the title. We are up there fighting for it! It is us that got us where we are now, in a fight that was only between two teams until last year!"

Adrien on his side's 3-2 win against Académica

Adrien put in yet another man of the match performance this Saturday night, inspiring his side to a 3-2 win against Académica in a night that will be remembered largely for its refereeing.

“The most important thing is that we got the win. It could have been more comfortable, but some things happened that we can't control. However, we reacted well. All we have to focus on is applying what we are doing in training", opened the Portuguese international in a flash interview at the final whistle, before responding to a question about Académica's second goal: "I haven't seen it properly, all I saw was the linesman raise his flag. I didn't know what had happened and I went to talk to the referee about it. We really want to say thank you to the fans, because they have been fantastic. There support is really important in this kind of match."

To finish, Adrien reflected on his current form: "I am trying to improve as much as I can and with this coach I can. It is up to you to say if this is the best Adrien or not, all I can do is my best to help the team."

Adrien on his side's 3-2 win against Braga on Sunday night

Adrien Silva highlighted his team's attitude and quality in fighting back from 2-0 down against Sp. Braga this Sunday.

“I don't know if it was the kind of result that champions get, but it was a great win for a team that showed character after being down 2-0 at half-time. In the first-half we had three clear opportunities to score, but we didn't give up", said the Alvalade skipper before touching on Jorge Jesus' talk at half-time: "He told us to believe in our work and in our ability. We showed a great attitude and that converted into goals in the second-half. The fans were even with us when we were losing and they gave us the strength to turn the result around."