Jorge Jesus comments on Saturday's loss to Benfica

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Saturday night, Jorge Jesus considered the final result to be far from a fair reflection of what happened on the pitch.

"Benfica left here today without knowing how they won. Even a draw would have been bad for Sporting after what happened out there tonight, but losing is worse. Football can be like this sometimes and all that really matters is who won. I really want to give credit to my players, because I thought they were brilliant and absolutely dominated Benfica in the second-half", opened the Alvalade boss, adding: "Benfica scored, but Rui Patrício didn't have to make a single save all night. Benfica didn't even create a single chance and we managed to pull off some impossible misses.

"Despite the result, Sporting showed that we are a lot stronger. Sometimes even teams who play like small clubs win", Jesus went on to add, before reaffirming that the title race is still on: "We have lost first place before and got it back. The lads know that we are capable going top of the table again and that is what we will try and do."

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts ahead of the Lisbon derby

This might be the fourth derby of the season, but Jorge Jesus is adamant that his team will be just as motivated as ever as the two Lisbon giants clash this Saturday evening.

“It will be a typical derby: difficult and passionate. I hope everything goes well and that Sporting is up to the standard that we have already shown against Benfica. The fact that we have already won three has given us a trophy, three points in the league and a win that unfortunately doesn't mean much, because we were knocked out of the Portuguese Cup. What matters right now are the three points and the lads are feeling just as confident now as they were in the first derby in the Super Cup", affirmed the Alvalade boss, going on to reject the possibility of the title being decided tomorrow: "Either team winning it doesn't resolve anything. There will still be nine more matches to play and a lot of points up for grabs. If we win tomorrow then it is just another three points."

The Sporting coach continues happy with his squad's performance so far this season. "Sometimes you can't do what you set out to do, but what we set out to do was to get Sporting in the fight for the title and today that is a reality", added Jesus, before closing with a comment on Rui Patrício's new contract: "It is a great bit of news for every Sporting fan. Three symbols of the team have already signed this season. The club has a good policy set out and the players who come through from the Academy are really important for Sporting."

Jorge Jesus at the final whistle on Monday night

The Sporting coach took a moment to speak with the press after his side's draw in Guimarães this Monday night.

“It was a really intense game, but it was also once in which Sporting had enough chances to win. The Guimarães keeper also did his bit. The big chances in the first-half were all ours and we kept Guimarães under control when they attacked. We showed a real defensive and physical capacity tonight. It was one of the best games I have seen my team play, but still we didn't win."

Jesus finshed with the inevitable, namely the coming Lisbon derby: “We have one more point than the team behind usand our next game is in Alvalade, where we want to defend first place. There are still ten games to go and it is the team that has the best run now that will win the league."

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of trip to V. Guimarães

"Regardless of who we play against, games in Portugal are always really difficult", warned Jorge Jesus in his pre-match press conference this Sunday afternoon, ahead of what promises to be a tasking trop north to face V. Guimarães, on Liga NOS matchday 24.

The Sporting coach went on to speak in greater depth about how he sees Monday night's opposition: "Our league is really competitive and Vitória are a hard team to play against. We will have to be at our best to claim the three points and defend out position in the league."

Jesus also used the meeting with the press to speak about his current squad options. “Except Adrien, who picked up an injury in training in Germany, only Paulo Oliveira and Bruno Paulista are out. We will see how Adrien is tomorrow, but there is a chance he will be ready", added the Alvalade boss, before speaking about Islam Slimani, Adrien and Rúben Semedo missing out on next week's Lisbon derby if they pick up a booking against Gumarães: "Like I have said a few times, I don't save players. I won't take them out of this game because of something like that, because every game is worth three points. The next game, which in this case is Guimarães, is always the most important one."

Jesus closed the press conference by congratulating Gianni Infantino for his recent election as FIFA President "He is a great guy and he will definitely bring new ideas to the game."

Jorge Jesus after Thursday's Europa League loss

Speaking at the final whistle after Thursday's 3-1 loss in Leverkusen, Jorge Jesus pointed the finger at the fatigue brought on by a packed fixture list.

“Most of the lads who started tonight didn't play against Boavista. We played really well for 60 minutes, but Leverkusen were the more pragmatic and scored. From the few chances they had they came away with goals. When I made substitutions I thought it would help the team, but actually played against us. After conceding the second we tried to respond, but they scored a third goal from a long pass forward", opened the Alvalade boss, adding: We lost against a team that play some really intense and dynamic football, but we stepped up. We can take some positives and negatives away from the game, but I liked some of the players who haven't had much time on the pitch and I think they responded well."

Jesus finished by turning his attention to the domestic campaign, where his side sit top of Liga NOS: "When I arrived, I promised I would fight for titles in Portugal. It was us who won the first trophy of the season and we are fighting hard in the most important competition. It was what was promised and we are in first. We are really happy with what we have managed to do so far."

Jorge Jesus' looks ahead to Thursday's Europa League showdown

While accepting that his side will face a tougher challenge in their quest to secure a historic victory on German soil this Thursday against Bayer Leverkusen, Jorge Jesus used his pre-match press conference to throw the door open for Sporting's chances of prolonging this season's Europa League campaign.

"It will be harder than it was in Lisbon. We played on Monday, made the trip and then we will play tomorrow. I will see how the players react in training later today and from there I will choose the best options for the team. Our choices are a bit conditioned, but we believe we can do what Leverkusen did in Lisbon", said the Alvalade boss, adding: "This game could set the tone for us in the Europa League. If we get through, then we are also capable of being the best teams in this competition."

Kick off is scheduled for 18h00 CET. 

Jorge Jesus' reaction to his side's 2-0 win against Benfica

“I want to start by thanking the fans. Almost 40 thousand people on a Monday night is really good. They were really important for the team", began Jorge Jesus in a flash interview at the final whistle this Monday, after his side's 2-0 win against Boavista.

In his usually analytical form, the Sporting boss reflected: “It was a tough game against a really intense Boavista team that doesn't let you play. We scored two goals in the first-half and from then on we managed the game well. Our objective was to win and it was important to keep a clean sheet. Once again we showed quality."

Jesus went on to speak about the absence of João Pereira, Coates and Jefferson from the starting line-up, as well as the introduction of Carlos Mané for Teo Gutiérrez: "It was my choice. Coates has played a lot in the last three games and he wasn't used to it. He is a big lad and it takes him some time to recover between matches. We will see if he is ready for Thursday or not."

Moving his attention to a question on Thursday's trip to Germany, Jesus added: "Of course there will be a first time for Sporting winning in Germany, but today is Monday and we have until Wednesday before we travel to see how things work out. A lot of people are talking about it, but a lot of things would have to happen for us to reach the Europa League final. Being ahead of Benfica and FC Porto, now that is something worth talking about."

To finish, the Alvalade boss touched on the possible suspension of Slimani, with the Lisbon derby just around the corner: "I don't know what is going to happen and we will have to wait and see. If it happens, then it will be like we thought it would, but right now we can't be sure. To be honest, what could we do but laugh about it?"

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts Liga NOS matchday 23 hosting of Boavista

Jorge Jesus was in the Alvalade press room this Sunday, ahead of what he expects to be a tough hosting of Boavista.

“Boavista are having a good second half to the season. They have won three, drawn two and haven't lost yet. It will be hard, just like it was in Bessa, where we lost two points through some mistakes that I really don't expect to see. We will be taking on a team who are on a high right now, but of course we want to win and to play well. The most important thing is that we win the three points and defend first place, opened the Sporting boss.

Explaining that Coates will feature and that there is no rush to bring Barcos into action, Jesus affirmed that he will put out his strongest possible side: "Today I watches the Bayer Leverkusen game and the lads suffered a bit because they were in such a hard game before it, but we will look at this match the same way we always do. I will use my best options for tomorrow, within the strategy that has brought us to where we are now."

Sporting CP-Boavista will kick off at 20h00 on Monday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus on Thusday's loss and his side's chances in the second-leg in Germany

"This is played over two legs. We lost here and Bayern Leverkusen are a good team who push the pace a lot, but we played well except after Rúben Semedo was sent off", opened Jorge Jesus in his post-match press conference.

The Alvalade boss went on to elaborate on some of his choices for the encounter and what could await in the second-leg in Germany: "It was Bayer who scored, but after we were better in the second-half, especially after we brought on Adrien and Slimani. Even it had stayed 0-0, we would still have to score in Germany. We knew it was going to be complicated and Bayern are in a good position, but we have a chance. I have won their once before, so it won't be the first time if I do it again."

Jorge Jesus' press conference ahead of Europa League hosting of Bayer Leverkusen

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press in a press conference this Wednesday, in the build-up to this week's Europa League hosting of Bayer Leverkusen.

“What kind of form a team is in really matters and we are full of confidence. Bayer Leverkusen are a Champions League team and, like I have already said, I think Sporting CP and FC Porto were drawn against the strongest teams in the Europa League. It will be a difficult match against a team I know well and have already faced a few times, but this year they are stronger. Let's see what happens in the first-leg", opened the Alvalade boss, adding a word on his plan for the encounter: "This isn't the time for us to stop rotating the squad. I have been focused on my main objective since the start of the season that isn't going to change now. For Sporting to win we will have to play really well and we know how Bayer will cause problems for us. I am more and more convinced that the Bundesliga is the best."

Responding to a comment that named Sporting as the best team in Portugal, Jorge Jesus highlighted the difference between the two sides' approach to the encounter: "I agree. He must be talking about the Portuguese league table and we are in first. From that, I agree. However I would say that Bayer Leverkusen are a great side. In their last match they rested two or three players, whereas we didn't. Whatever the result tomorrow, it won't bring a lot of security for either team in the second-leg. We will have to try and win without conceding, but that won't define the second-leg."