Jorge Jesus happy with his first week of pre-season training

Sporting's senior team is already out on the training pitch under Jorge Jesus' watchful eye, preparing for the coming pre-season campaign. Going into his second season at the Alvalade helm, the Sporting coach proved confident ahead of the start of official action in August: "We are feeling confident, because we have to be better after a year together. It helps ingrain ideas. If last year we came close and we want to improve on that, then we have to think about the title."

Speaking about the week's medical exams and training, Jesus revealed some of methods applied on the pitch: "Players who play for me have to be hungry for the ball, they have to want to get out there. If they aren't then they don't have much chance. Some of the lads are already used to that and those who have come in will have to get used to it. Most of the team came back in good shape. Alan Ruiz is a bit more difficult, because he was out of action for a while. The Argentinean league finished three months ago, so you can see the difference. In general I am satisfied and it is important that we don't push the players too hard at this stage."

Sporting will travel to Switzerland on the 11th of July, where the squad will remain until the 19th of July. Asked about the choice of venue, Jesus noted: "I and the president think it is a good idea to spend some time in pre-season in Europe. There are a lot of Portuguese immigrants over there, a lot of Sporting fans, and that contact will help build up a dynamic."

Monaco, FC Nyonnais, Zenit and PSV Eindhoven all await Lausanne and Jesus isn't about to underestimate what will most certainly be tough challenges. "They are Champions League sides. Pre-season results mean something, but it isn't the most important thing. Harder matches will force us to play harder and that is what we want", finished Jesus.

Organised Fan Group holds birthday lunch

The Organised Fan Group Directivo Ultras XXI held a birthday lunch this Saturday to celebrate their 14th anniversary. Repaying the dedication shown by the club's fans during what was a record-breaking season in terms of spectator numbers, coach Jorge Jesus was in attendance, along with youth player João Palhinha, futsal goalkeeper Gonçalo Portugal and handball winger Pedro Solha.

Alvalade coach dispels doubts surrounding his future

Bruno de Carvalho today announced the renewal of coach Jorge Jesus' contract until the end of the 2018/2019 season.

"I want to thank the SAD and Sporting board of directors for their faith in me and in everyone who works with me. Two months ago the president invited me to renew my contract for another year. It was a show of confidence and it touched me and convinced me that this is what I want. We thought about it together and we did what was best for Sporting", affirmed Jesus after penning the extended deal, adding: "In 10 months we have done a spectacular job. I think that Sporting is much stronger now and I am really happy with having the chance to stay here."

Bruno de Carvalho also spoke at the signing, reflecting on the work done in Jesus' debut season: "I spoke with Jorge and we decided to sign up for another year. Sporting is a club that takes announcing this kind of information very seriously Both Jorge Jesus and I are people guided by passion and that is what sealed it in the end. The club is in great shape, both financially and in terms of sports success. We have took a big step in unifying this club again and to carry on giving the fans things to be happy about."

Jorge Jesus proud of his team as Liga NOS campaign comes to a close with 4-0 win in Braga

Jorge Jesus paid a fitting tribute to his team and the fans in his post-match interview this Saturday, after watching Sporting dismantle Braga on the last game of a season taken right down to the wire.

"We did what we had to do throughout the season. It was a real show of the power and quality of this squad. We had to win and that is exactly what we did. It is never easy here, especially to win 4-0", opened Jesus, adding: "The best doesn't always win. The best was Sporting."

The Alvalade boss of course could not close the season without a word for the fans: "They supported us right up until the last second. It isn't natural for a team to win 86 points and not be champion."

Jorge Jesus on his side's 5-0 win against V. Setúbal

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 5-0 victory against V. Setúbal this Saturday, in what was Sporting's eighth consecutive win.

"We played really well again and I would say we are in our best form. The speed of and movement of this team is really hard to stop", opened Jesus at the final whistle, going on to add a word on João Mário's absence: "We waited right up to the last minute to see how we was, but we were a bit worried about risking him. Luckily Gelson Martins played really well and scored two."

As for the title race, Jesus was clear: "Sporting is the best team in the league."

Jorge Jesus ahead of the last Liga NOS home fixture of the season

Estádio José Alvalade will host the last home game of the season this weekend, as Sporting take on V. Setúbal on Liga NOS matchday 33, at 20h45. With the season coming to boiling point, Jorge Jesus is expecting a tough challenge from a team that put on a solid showing against Benfica.

“This will be a typical game for Sporting in Alvalade. It will be hard and we will be facing a team who played really well against our rival. We will only win this is we play at the level we have been at recently", explained Jorge Jesus, before reflecting on the season run-in: “We have two finals to go and we have one to win tomorrow. That is all we are focused on. We are ready for V. Setúbal's strengths, particularly their organisation in defence."

In relation to the fight for the title, Jesus dismissed the edge given by playing before Benfica: "Both teams have been under pressure throughout the season. Who ever places first doesn't make a difference. Of course things can influence the game, but that isn't one of them. This is the first time most of these players are in with a chance to win a national title and I have to say, the lads have shown a lot of class. We are in our best form right now and we have to keep it up."

Jorge Jesus on his side's 3-1 win against FC Porto

Jorge Jesus led Sporting to a first league win in Estádio do Dragão since 2007, with his side putting in a sterling performance to take the battle for the Liga NOS into the last two games of the season.

“We played really well today, against a team that has some good players. In seven matches against FC Porto and Benfica, we have only lost one. That shows how good these players are and they showed to stop FC Porto and to score three goals", commented the Sporting boss at the final whistle, adding the inevitable word on the title run-in: "With two matches to go, we still don't know who will win the league, but there is no doubt about who is the better team. Sporting have more than shown that it is us. Realistically we had to win here to be in with a shot at the title and that is what we did. It isn't normal for a team to reach 80 points and not win the league, but that will happen to one of two teams this season."

Jorge Jesus ahead of Saturday's showdown with FC Porto

“The way we prepare for a game is the same, no matter who we play against. Strategy can change depending on who we are playing against, but our methodology doesn't", opened Jorge Jesus in his pre-match press conference this Friday afternoon, ahead of the weekend's visit to FC Porto.

For the Alvalade coach, this is the ideal time to face FC Porto: "We are near the end of the season and we have hardly anyone injured. I have all the options I want in the squad, which is nice. It will be a hard match with not only three points to win, but potentially first place as well. We are, as always, feeling calm and confident. We will have a great match tomorrow. Both teams have their objectives fixed now, but that doesn't take any pressure off FC Porto. They will want to win and to play well, just like we will. We have been better than FC Porto over the 31 matches played this season and we have 10 more points than them, but that doesn't take away from the quality they have."

Jesus was naturally in his normal analytical mood, taking a closer look at Saturday's opponent: “We will face two really good wing-backs who go on the attack. One of them played for me for six years. Of course we will pay a bit of extra attention to both of them, but that won't change much what we normally do. We aren't going to move away from how we attack."

This weekend could prove pivotal in the title race. “There are nine points to play for and I think we could have had a lot more. The numbers show what a great season it has been, but we are missing the cherry on the top of the cake. We believe we are in with a chance and we will until the last game of the season. The confidence we are felling right now didn't drop from the sky, it comes from the work we put in on the training pitch", said Jesus, finishing: "Benfica and Sporting CP have won pretty much every game and it is a blow for blow race for the title. Of course V. Guimarães could stop Benfica, just like U. Madeira could have stopped us. Let's wait and see what happens, but the most important thing is that we play well against FC Porto."

Jorge Jesus on his side's win against U. Madeira

Jorge Jesus was understandably happy with his side's clinical dismantling of União da Madeira this weekend, with a performance rubbber-stamped with another clean sheet.

“The most important thing is to score first. We had 35 minutes of really good football and went two goals ahead, but we could have scored more. I would say thought that U. Madeira players well and they have some quick players out wide who had us defending at times. We were really objective today and I am happy for not having conceded", affirmed the Sporting coach at the final whistle, adding: "We are gaining stability in defence and we didn't give our opponent any chances today. Some of the lads who haven't had that much time on the pitch had a run out today, like Hernán Barcos and Gelson. Bryan Ruiz has played a lot this season and we were trying to protect him for the run in up to the end of the season."

Sporting also secured an automatic Champions League berth this Saturday. “It is important financially and also you don't have to play really early in qualifiers. I want to be back in the Champions League", finished Jesus.

Assistant coach Raúl José on win against Moreirense

Raúl José stepped in for Jorge Jesus in Saturday's post match interview, after Jorge Jesus was shown red in the last 15 minutes against Morirense.

“It didn't look to me like he deserved to be sent off and that is all I have to say about it", opened Rául José, adding a word on the weekend's opposition: "We were expecting a hard game. We did out job and we won the three points. Moreirense are a really aggressive side who play some direct football, but I thought we controlled the match well."