Sporting challenge faces Newcastle

Newcastle United FC, who reached last year's semi-finals, will face Sporting Clube de Portugal, hosts of this season's UEFA Cup final, in Group D following today's draw for the group stage. Elsewhere, 2002 winners Feyenoord have a tough prospect after being drawn in Group A with 1997 title-holders FC Schalke 04. uefa.com rounds up the post-draw reaction from Groups A-D

Group A

The match against Ferencváros is an interesting one for me, but the most important thing for us is the competition - we want to win all our games. (Gábor Babos, Feyenoord goalkeeper )

For me this is one of the hardest, if not the hardest group. Ferencváros and Basel are domestic leaders currently and Feyernoord are second in the Netherlands. And in Scotland there will be no presents either. (Ralf Rangnick, Schalke coach)

The draw is fantastic. It is what we are about. We wanted to get to the group stage and we've got some pretty good names. We are excited and it is a real challenge. We have got to punch above our weight to get into third place and go forward. (Chris Robinson, Heart of Midlothian FC chief executive)

Although we are definitely in one of the toughest groups our aim is still to qualify for the next phase. I'm sure that the games against Feyenoord and Schalke will be special experiences for the players and the fans. (Csaba László, Ferencvárosi TC coach)

Group B

It's a tough draw for us. The new format is certainly very attractive. We can play a certain number of matches. This will allow us to test also some younger players. With three teams qualifying, we hope to make it to the next round, as we worked very hard to get there. (Lorenzo Minotti, Parma FC technical director)

Playing at home against Parma is really nice for Standard. Liege is a bit of an Italian city, and some of the board members have Italian roots. (R. Standard de Liège midfielder Karel Geraerts)

I'm pleased that we will come up against some famous European teams. I'm also happy that I myself will meet two good friends and great goalkeepers, Zubizarreta and Preud'homme [of Athletic Club Bilbao and R. Standard de Liège respectively]. I will do my best to get us through. (Walter Zenga, FC Steaua Bucuresti coach)

Group C

All the teams are pretty equal - there are no real leaders or outsiders. Club Brugge played against Shakhtar Donetsk in this year's Champions League qualifiers - they're a strong team who can get results and a lot will depend on the result of this first game. (Yevgen Kucherevskyy, FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk coach)

Third place is a realistic target. The most difficult match will be against Zaragoza but we'll do everything to win at least our home matches. (Ivica Vastic, FK Austria Wien forward)

It is a tough group, but it could have been worse. Brugge are the best side in Belgium, and for me personally, very special opponents, as I played there. It will be exciting and I think the final matches might decide it all. (Foeke Booy, FC Utrecht coach)

I think I am going to apply for Ukranian citizenship - first Shakhtar Donetsk, and now Dnipro. Luckily I already have a lot of contacts over there, but it will be a long trip again. And then we also have to go to Austria Wien, so it is not going to be easy. (Chris Van Puyvelde, Club Brugge KV assistant coach)

Group D

I think that we have every chance of getting through the group. We played Newcastle already in pre-season and therefore we know them. It's a balanced group but we're very hopeful about this year's competition. (Eurico Gomes, Sporting Clube de Portugal spokesman)

It's a good draw for us I think. It's tough, there's some tough teams in the group. We played Sporting in a pre-season friendly, losing 1-0 to them in a tournament. Sochaux is near Basel, where we travelled last year, so that's good. Tblisi is a tricky one for us. (Russell Cushing, Newcastle United FC chief operating officer)

It's rather open in this group but there are quality teams. Newcastle are the club of Shearer and Robert and they're the favourites. (Bernard Genghini, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard sports manager)

We have been grouped with four very strong teams. One thing is certain: we are not favorites, but we will do our best. Our goal will be to win our home games. (Panionios NFC coach Karol Pecze)