Genk out to avoid 'disaster'

KRC Genk coach Hugo Broos says it will be a "small disaster" if his side fail to overturn a 2-1 deficit against FK Sarajevo in the Bosnia-Herzegovnian capital in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie.

'Don't throw it away'
With the winner drawn to face FC Dynamo Kyiv, Broos concedes that going out at this stage would be hard to take – especially after his team worked so hard to finish second in Belgium last season. "It would be a small disaster to have to pack our bags after just two European matches," he said. "It would throw away a year of hard work qualifying for the competition."

'Serious blow'
Away goals by Admir Raščić and Veldin Muharemović have put Sarajevo in command, yet a much-improved performance by his side in Saturday's 3-1 win against Cercle Brugge KSV which opened their Eerste Klasse campaign has rekindled Broos's confidence. "We suffered a serious blow against Sarajevo, but when you recover like we did against Cercle Brugge, scoring beautiful goals and playing the sort of football we were accustomed to playing last season, then you can travel to Sarajevo with confidence, ready to play the match of your life," he said.

Cool heads
Broos believes Genk are the better team despite last week's disappointment. "Although we weren't at our best, we still had five or six chances while they didn't have any except for a header. Their goals were gifts, so I think we're right to consider ourselves the better side." That will prove immaterial if Genk do not score the minimum of two goals needed to progress. "I think the chances are 60-40 in their favour," Broos said. "But maybe Sarajevo will be like we were in the home match: over-concentrated, over-stressed and under pressure. But we mustn't storm forward from the start. We know from the home leg that they are deadly on the break so we have to stay organised."

Local optimism
Sarajevo are bidding to become the first Bosnia-Herzegovnian club to reach the third qualifying round since NK Željezničar lost to Newcastle United FC in 2002/03, and coach Husref Musemić thinks they will prevail. "Our advantage is huge," he said. "Our guests have quality and are very dangerous in attack. We must play very carefully throughout the 90 minutes as any mistake could be fatal, but I still believe my team will be successful."