Kanouté keen to kick-start Sevilla's season
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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Sevilla FC only made their UEFA Champions League debut last season but as he mulls over a rare spring without European football, forward Frédéric Kanouté has vowed to help the team back into the élite club competition.
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Sevilla FC only made their UEFA Champions League debut last season but as he contemplates a rare spring without European football, striker Frédéric Kanouté has vowed to help the Spanish outfit back into the continent's premier club competition.
Setbacks
Kanouté's side exited the 2007/08 first knockout round on penalties against Fenerbahçe SK having won the UEFA Cup in the previous two seasons. However, having been pipped to Liga fourth place by Club Atlético de Madrid, Sevilla returned to the UEFA Cup this term only to exit in the group stage after a 1-0 loss to UC Sampdoria in their final outing. And although they are currently in the Spanish top four, a 1-1 home draw against CA Osasuna last weekend was not the ideal start to 2009 with a number of clubs, including Atlético, breathing down their necks and FC Barcelona having left everyone in their wake.
Aims
"Our objective is to qualify for the UEFA Champions League," Kanouté told uefa.com. "It was such a pity that we missed out on goal difference to Atlético in 2008 especially after such a great domestic campaign. We always aim to go as far as possible in whatever competition we're in and when we're heading into the final games of this season lets see where we are. Barcelona do look almost invincible at the moment, though."
Honours
A Sevilla player since a 2005 move from Tottenham Hostpur FC, the 31-year-old Malian international had never won a major honour with Spurs or previous clubs Olympique Lyonnais and West Ham United FC. Yet Kanouté has since been part of not only two UEFA Cup successes, but also victories in the UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, scoring in each of those finals.
Seville 'warmth'
He likes the city too. "Seville has given me many great things," the reigning African Player of the Year explained. "I'm really happy here but who knows what awaits us in the future. I'm contracted to Sevilla and to play for a team like this is always a pleasure for a footballer. I've enjoyed the best years of my career in this city. I love the warmth of the people and the quality of life my family enjoys. I realise how lucky I am in this life and I thank God for that."
