Post by Taxigirl on Mar 14, 2006 9:56:18 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/mar13j.html
Roberto Mancini expects his Inter outfit to again be tested by Ajax as both sides look to set up a Champions League quarter-final clash with Villarreal.
The two teams meet at the San Siro on Tuesday after the 2-2 first leg draw and Mancio today had words of praise for the Dutch side’s courage.
“I knew that Ajax were a club who played good football even though they have numerous youngsters in their ranks,” stated the tactician.
“They have been playing the same brand of football for years and although they don’t have any big names in their team, they always cause opponents problems.”
The Italian outfit start the tie as hot favourites to reach the last eight, but he’s warned against complacency.
“The game still needs to be played,” he added. “You can’t go into a game like this and hope for a 0-0 because a goal can be scored at any instant.
“We will look to take a grip of the game and look for a win as we always do in every match,” he continued.
“It is vital that we just concentrate on this game. If we don’t do well against Ajax then we’ll have no more opportunities to make up for it in the Champions League.”
One welcome boost for Inter will be the fact that the fans will finally be able to watch them in action after their four-game supporter ban was served.
“It won’t be a simple game and we’ll need the help of our fans during a very important night,” urged the Sampdoria legend.
Mancini was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his starting XI, even if he did suggest that Adriano would be partnered by Alvaro Recoba in attack.
“Adriano is in good physical shape,” he stated. “Recoba is a player who leaves more space for the Brazilian to move in.”
Squad: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar; 3 Nicolas Burdisso, 4 Javier Zanetti, 11 Sinisa Mihajlovic, 23 Marco Materazzi, 25 Walter Samuel, 33 Pierre Wome, 49 Marco Andreolli; 5 Dejan Stankovic, 6 Cristiano Zanetti, 7 Luis Figo, 8 David Pizarro, 14 Juan Sebastian Veron, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 31 Cesar; 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 10 Adriano, 20 Alvaro Recoba, 30 Obafemi Martins.
Roberto Mancini expects his Inter outfit to again be tested by Ajax as both sides look to set up a Champions League quarter-final clash with Villarreal.
The two teams meet at the San Siro on Tuesday after the 2-2 first leg draw and Mancio today had words of praise for the Dutch side’s courage.
“I knew that Ajax were a club who played good football even though they have numerous youngsters in their ranks,” stated the tactician.
“They have been playing the same brand of football for years and although they don’t have any big names in their team, they always cause opponents problems.”
The Italian outfit start the tie as hot favourites to reach the last eight, but he’s warned against complacency.
“The game still needs to be played,” he added. “You can’t go into a game like this and hope for a 0-0 because a goal can be scored at any instant.
“We will look to take a grip of the game and look for a win as we always do in every match,” he continued.
“It is vital that we just concentrate on this game. If we don’t do well against Ajax then we’ll have no more opportunities to make up for it in the Champions League.”
One welcome boost for Inter will be the fact that the fans will finally be able to watch them in action after their four-game supporter ban was served.
“It won’t be a simple game and we’ll need the help of our fans during a very important night,” urged the Sampdoria legend.
Mancini was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his starting XI, even if he did suggest that Adriano would be partnered by Alvaro Recoba in attack.
“Adriano is in good physical shape,” he stated. “Recoba is a player who leaves more space for the Brazilian to move in.”
Squad: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar; 3 Nicolas Burdisso, 4 Javier Zanetti, 11 Sinisa Mihajlovic, 23 Marco Materazzi, 25 Walter Samuel, 33 Pierre Wome, 49 Marco Andreolli; 5 Dejan Stankovic, 6 Cristiano Zanetti, 7 Luis Figo, 8 David Pizarro, 14 Juan Sebastian Veron, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 31 Cesar; 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 10 Adriano, 20 Alvaro Recoba, 30 Obafemi Martins.