He has won all seven games since taking charge in early January including two victories over FC Porto and last weekend Os Arsenalistas beat Sporting and in the process leapfrogged them into third place in the Primeira Liga.
Leaders Benfica notched up a narrow victory over Lisbon rivals Belenenses whilst FC Porto ran out comfortable winners at V.Setúbal.
At the bottom, Portimonense lost at home to Tondela and after three successive defeats find themselves firmly rooted in the drop zone.
Benfica made it sixteen league wins on the trot with a 3-2 victory over Belenenses at the Estádio da Luz. The Eagles star player was former Spurs, QPR and Fulham attacking midfielder Adel Taarbt. The Morrocan international set-up Carlos Vinicius for opening goal on the half-hour mark. Adel Taarbt was on hand to double Benfica’s lead seven minutes later. A Ferro own goal on seventy minutes gave Belenenses some hope but Chiquinho added a third for the home side eight minutes later. Licá’s penalty for visitors, four minutes from time was not enough to deny Benfica victory and ensured that they remain seven points clear of Porto at the top.
Porto, still reeling from their defeat by Braga in the League Cup Final, travelled to V.Setúbal but had to wait until near the interval for the breakthrough. Strikes from Jesús Corona and Alex Telles gave them a two goal lead at half-time. Tiquinho Soares made it 3-0 just after the break and Luís Diaz added the fourth in added-on time.
Sporting travelled to SC Braga without their talisman Bruno Fernandes who was making his debut for Manchester United after months of transfer rumours. A positive start from the Lions saw them go close on two separate occasions in the opening ten minutes, firstly from Eduardo and then new boy Andraž Sporar in his first start. Braga looked stronger after the break and with fifteen minutes to go Luis Neto thought he had saved Sporting with a clearance off the line from Galeno’s strike but substitute Trincão was on hand to slot home the rebound.
The single goal victory saw Braga move up to third place after having been in mid-table back in December. On Sunday evening FC Porto host Benfica and should the Eagles continue their winning run then it will virtually assure them of yet another Primeira Liga title.