Gross believes in Basel

By Mark Chaplin

Any fears that FC Basel would be rusty after their long winter break were triumphantly banished as the Swiss title-holders resumed their UEFA Champions League campaign with a gritty single-goal victory against RC Deportivo La Coruña. And Basel coach Christian Gross insisted proudly that he had never doubted that his men would be ready for the game, despite not having played a competitive match for more than two months.

'We played really well'
"I believe in this team, there is a great deal of potential," Gross said. "And tonight, I was pleased with our physical qualities. We played really well against one of the best teams in Europe. We had time to actually prepare for this match and try a number of tactical variations, and I am pleased in particular that we kept a clean sheet."

'Credit to Basel'
Certainly, Basel were full value for their win against a disappointing Deportivo team, who never got to grips with the freezing sub-zero temperatures - a fact that the visitors' coach Javier Irureta said had a crucial bearing on the match. "I think the conditions were against us," he said. "But credit to Basel, they played well in the first half and defended very well in the second."

Within a point
The home team's win, earned by Hakan Yakin's spectacular long-range goal on 30 minutes, keeps them in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals, having raised them off the foot of Group D - and to within a point of Juventus FC. However, both Gross and Hakan Yakin are adamant that the club's main ambition this season is to retain their domestic championship, having slipped behind Grasshopper-Club in the first part of the Swiss league season.

Domestic focus
"We do not have to have overambitious expectations," explained Gross. "It is important that the club wins the title again." That view was echoed by man-of-the-match Hakan Yakin, who added: "We want to win the championship so that we can compete in Europe again next season."

'Still very open'
Irureta, meanwhile, admitted his side now have a long way to go to remain in the Champions League after a poor start to the second group stage which has yielded only one point from three games. But he added: "The situation is still very open, and we now have to try and win the return match in La Coruña."

Decision defended
The Deportivo coach also defended his decision to leave much-vaunted striker Diego Tristán on the bench for the first 45 minutes, with his team looking a more effective unit following his half-time arrival.

Donato reaches milestone
"Basel have strong attacking players, and like to try and get into an early lead, so I felt it was the best policy to play Donato [Gama] in the defensive midfield role," explained the Spaniards' coach. In starting the match, Donato became the second oldest player to appear in the Champions League, having celebrated his 40th birthday in December.

Gross hope
Deportivo and Basel meet again in Spain on Tuesday, with Gross adamant that his team can complete a impressive 'double'. "We are not without our chances over there," he said. "If we can go out with confidence and the right relaxed attitude, we can do it." If they play as they did tonight, Gross could well be proved right.