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

William Carvalho in long chat with Sporting TV and the Sporting Journal

William Carvalho sat down with Sporting TV this week for an extensive interview, covering everything from the midfielder's most nervous moments to the importance of spells out on loan.

SPORTING – In a recent interview you said that you felt nervous on three occasions: your debut for Sporting CP, your first cap for Portugal and the final of Euro 2016. How about now, is this another occasion?

WILLIAM CARVALHO – [Laughs] No, I wouldn't say that. This is something that I always do, so I am used to it.

It is easier to make a successful tackle or talk with a journalist?

[Laughs] tackling. I feel natural when I am on the pitch.

What about in training, do you still get the odd butterfly?

Training is normal for me after so many years.

How about out on the pitch then? Do you still think about your debut?

Not really, but I feel the same responsibility of representing a big club that I did on the first day.

Your made your debut in 2010/11, against Guimarães (replacing Matías Fernández in the 89th minute). You then went out on loan with Centro Desportivo de Fátima (six months) and then Cercle Brugge (one and a half seasons). What that important for you?

Yes, it was. With Fátima I actually played as a central defender for five or six matches, which I wasn't used to. I adapted well and it was good for my experience.

Would you say that it is important for the younger players in the squad to spend time out on loan? João Palhinha, Daniel Podence or Francisco Geraldes, for example.

Of course. They were on loan for half of the season and they gained a lot of maturity and experience. Today they bring extra quality to the squad.

So how much can a player actually grow in that kind of situation?

On the pitch you can a lot, because you play a lot. That is the only way a player gets better. Sometimes at a club as big as Sporting CP we don't have a lot of opportunities, so it is better to go out on loan and come back stronger.

We recently heard that when we take you our of your comfort zone (the Sporting Academy)... well what about in the kitchen?.

[Laughs] Well I can do the basics.

Alvalade trio in action for World Cup 2018 qualifier

Liga NOS will enjoy an international break after this weekend's action, with a World Cup 2018 qualifier between Portugal and Hungary scheduled for the 25th of March in Estádio da Luz and a friendly against Sweden in Funchal. 

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício (Sporting CP), Anthony Lopes (Lyon) and Marafona (Sp. de Braga);

Defenders: Nelson Semedo (Benfica), João Cancelo (Valencia), Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Luís Neto (Zenit), José Fonte (Southampton), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Pepe (Real Madrid), Eliseu (Benfica) and Cédric Soares (Southampton);

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting CP), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Pizzi (Benfica), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich), João Mário (Inter Milan), André Gomes (FC Barcelona) and João Moutinho (Monaco);

Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille) and André Silva (FC Porto)

Bas Dost speaks with Sporting TV after netting four against Tondela

Liga NOS top scorer Bas Dost spoke with Sporting TV after bagging four goals against Tondela this weekend.

"It was a great feeling. I wasn't totally happy, because I had a chance to score five, but I was really happy the next day. I am really happy with the four goals and the result. I had some great passes to finish. Daniel Podence did a good job as a second striker and it is important to be the top scorer in the league", said the Dutchman, adding a word on the race for the European Golden Boot: "I don't think about it that much. Our priority is the league. A lot of family and friends have mentioned it and I didn't think I could score four goals. Five will have to wait until next time and with this team, it is possible."

To finish, Bas Dost saved a word for the fans: "We play away in small stadiums a lot of the time, but we always have fans there. It gives us extra strength and it is like playing at home. I couldn't even hear the Tondela fans. Now I want to score against Nacional."