2Slick
04-12-2006, 21:20
Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Paulo Bento has demanded nothing less than a resounding and stylish victory when his team meet FC Spartak Moskva on UEFA Champions League Matchday 6.
Pride in Lions
The Sporting coach feels only pride at how his relatively inexperienced side have coped with an immensely testing Group B – including the challenges of FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München - and knows that either a victory or a draw will take the Portuguese club into the UEFA Cup at Spartak's expense. Sporting, who sit third in the section, have a three-point advantage over Spartak and drew 1-1 in Moscow on Matchday 2.
Attacking philosophy
However, Bento explained that he expects every Sporting player to go out against their Russian opponents visualising a triumphant push towards the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow next May. "My ethos is that I want this team to create a good image of Sporting in every match we play, not just with victory but with our style of play," said Bento. "But especially in this last group game I want a win, a good performance and an indication of how much it means to this club and my players to continue in UEFA competition.
Final objective
"Group B was very testing and this group of players are lacking in both maturity and experience. But we didn't just play in our group - we competed. Now I want us to keep on competing and try to reach the final of the UEFA Cup. A few of the players in this team achieved that two seasons ago and I want them to transmit to the others how important and prestigious that experience was."
Coincidence
Not only was that 2005 UEFA Cup final against Russian rivals in PFC CSKA Moskva – resulting in defeat for Sporting at their own Estádio José Alvalade - but the last time Sporting hosted Spartak, they lost 3-0 and that was Spartak's last away win in the above competition. "Obviously they will be very motivated because they have not won the Russian title this year and this is their last chance of glory. Only victory will do for them," added Bento of the side that finished second last month in the Russian championship race.
Drawing a blank
Sporting's last outing, a 2-0 home defeat by SL Benfica in Friday's Lisbon derby, typified their worst problem according to their coach. "We are creating too few chances and failing to convert the ones that we do create," he moaned. Bento confirmed that striker Liedson will keep his place despite his lack of goals and indicated that Carlos Paredes is a probable starter in defensive midfield.
Good prep
Spartak coach Vladimir Fedotov said that watching that Benfica victory had been an informative exercise. "It was interesting to see that Sporting lost because I came away with the impression that they are a very strong team," said the veteran trainer. "Benfica played good counterattacking football and because Sporting didn't take their chances, the victory went to the more clinical team. This is a vital match for us because only victory will do, but everyone will have to wait until kick-off to see what kind of performance we believe will win us the three points to take us into the UEFA Cup."
Probable teams
Sporting: Ricardo; Miguel Garcia, Tonel, Anderson Polga, Rodrigo Tello; Carlos Paredes; Carlos Martins, João Moutinho, Nani; Alecsandro, Liedson.
Spartak: Wojciech Kowalewski; Roman Shishkin, Martin Jiránek, Geder, Martin Stranzl; Vladimir Bystrov, Radoslav Kováč, Mozart, Maxym Kalynychenko; Yegor Titov; Roman Pavlyuchenko.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116396/index.html
Pride in Lions
The Sporting coach feels only pride at how his relatively inexperienced side have coped with an immensely testing Group B – including the challenges of FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München - and knows that either a victory or a draw will take the Portuguese club into the UEFA Cup at Spartak's expense. Sporting, who sit third in the section, have a three-point advantage over Spartak and drew 1-1 in Moscow on Matchday 2.
Attacking philosophy
However, Bento explained that he expects every Sporting player to go out against their Russian opponents visualising a triumphant push towards the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow next May. "My ethos is that I want this team to create a good image of Sporting in every match we play, not just with victory but with our style of play," said Bento. "But especially in this last group game I want a win, a good performance and an indication of how much it means to this club and my players to continue in UEFA competition.
Final objective
"Group B was very testing and this group of players are lacking in both maturity and experience. But we didn't just play in our group - we competed. Now I want us to keep on competing and try to reach the final of the UEFA Cup. A few of the players in this team achieved that two seasons ago and I want them to transmit to the others how important and prestigious that experience was."
Coincidence
Not only was that 2005 UEFA Cup final against Russian rivals in PFC CSKA Moskva – resulting in defeat for Sporting at their own Estádio José Alvalade - but the last time Sporting hosted Spartak, they lost 3-0 and that was Spartak's last away win in the above competition. "Obviously they will be very motivated because they have not won the Russian title this year and this is their last chance of glory. Only victory will do for them," added Bento of the side that finished second last month in the Russian championship race.
Drawing a blank
Sporting's last outing, a 2-0 home defeat by SL Benfica in Friday's Lisbon derby, typified their worst problem according to their coach. "We are creating too few chances and failing to convert the ones that we do create," he moaned. Bento confirmed that striker Liedson will keep his place despite his lack of goals and indicated that Carlos Paredes is a probable starter in defensive midfield.
Good prep
Spartak coach Vladimir Fedotov said that watching that Benfica victory had been an informative exercise. "It was interesting to see that Sporting lost because I came away with the impression that they are a very strong team," said the veteran trainer. "Benfica played good counterattacking football and because Sporting didn't take their chances, the victory went to the more clinical team. This is a vital match for us because only victory will do, but everyone will have to wait until kick-off to see what kind of performance we believe will win us the three points to take us into the UEFA Cup."
Probable teams
Sporting: Ricardo; Miguel Garcia, Tonel, Anderson Polga, Rodrigo Tello; Carlos Paredes; Carlos Martins, João Moutinho, Nani; Alecsandro, Liedson.
Spartak: Wojciech Kowalewski; Roman Shishkin, Martin Jiránek, Geder, Martin Stranzl; Vladimir Bystrov, Radoslav Kováč, Mozart, Maxym Kalynychenko; Yegor Titov; Roman Pavlyuchenko.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116396/index.html