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."

Jorge Jesus pleased with his young talent in Saturday's demolition of Tondela

Proud of his young players. That is how Jorge Jesus summarised his post-match press conference this Saturday, after watching Daniel Podence and Matheus Pereira pick apart Tondela and assist the goal hungry Bas Dost in a 4-1 win.

"Daniel Podence did will for the first goal and it is a great example of what these lads can bring to the team. It was important for us to go in at half-time in the lead. It settled the younger players and helped us relax in the second-half. What we are doing is important for the future, accepting the risk of having so many young players out on the pitch at the same time. Gelson has already made a name for himself and I liked what Matheus Pereira, Podence and Palhinha showed", said the Sporting CP coach.

Commenting on Bas Dost's unstoppable form in front of goal, Jesus added: "He is a really humble player and he have the second penalty to Joel Campbell. It is risky to take three penalties on one match and we put all three the same way, which we have to work on. If Bas Dost finishes at the league's top scorer, then it reflects on the whole team as well as him indivudally."

Bas Dost nets four with striking masterclass supported by Matheus and Podence

Bas Dost was the star of the show in Saturday night, dispatching Tondela with four goals on Liga NOS matchday 25, with the help of some brilliant ball control from Daniel Podence and Matheus Pereira.

With Daniel Podence making his first senior start and Zeegelaar and Matheus Pereira down a new-look left wing, Sporting CP focused much of their attacking attention out wide. The trio of Podence, Martins and Pereira were a constant source of danger for the Tondela back line, as the three youngsters forced depth against a defence more accustomed to man marking. However, it was actually the hosts who created the first chance, when Jailson fired a shot towards goal following a corner.

Bryan Ruiz responded after 10 minutes with a shot that pulled a save out of Cláudio Ramos and from then on Sporting CP controlled the action. Short link-up passing down the flanks defined the Alvalade approach, while Tondela looked to do damage through the pace of Murillo down the left, countered by Paulo Oliveira dropping in behind Schelotto whenever the the Argentinean probed forward. Despite the one-way traffic, Tondela created another pair of chances, both from dead-ball situations through Pedro Nuno (22’ and 30’). 

As the clock ticked over Matheus Pereira found his feet and Podence began turning the screw with some fantastic dribbling skills. On 34 minutes Zeegelaar triggered a break down the left, Podence darted into the box and pulled a cross back a cross goal and who else but Bas Dost to slot home a half volley to open the scoring.

The game opened up after the break and Matheus Pereira began to show what he can really do, finding Bas Dost with a wire-guided cross that the Dutchman came close to converting on with a diving header. Trailing and in desperate need of points, Tondela pushed forward and managed to pull level three minutes before the hour, when Murillo rounded off an excellent team move. 

Just a minute after letting one in, Sporting CP struck. Of course it was Bas Dost who did the business, keeping is calm under pressure to slot home after Matheus Pereira did well to go around a couple of defenders. Not to be outdone by his fellow Sporting Academy graduates, Gelson began testing luck and was able to win a penalty after breaking into the box. Up stepped Dost and dispatched from 12 yards, before doing the same again six minutes later after being pushed in the back in the 6-yard box.

Jesus names squad for Liga NOS matchday 25

1 – Rui Patrício
34 – Beto Pimparel
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
18 – Francisco Geraldes
20 – Luc Castaignos
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
35 – Ruben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins