Nedvěd's never never land

After missing the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League final through suspension, the trophy with the big ears has become an obsession for Pavel Nedvěd.

Career haul
With Juventus not having won the competition since 1995/96, the Czech Republic midfielder needs no extra motivation to perform in his side's opening Round of 16 tie against Werder Bremen toniht as he looks to add to his career haul of four Italian titles and the 2003 European Footballer of the Year award.

'No secret'
"It is no secret that winning the Champions League is our main goal this season," the 33-year-old Nedvěd told uefa.com. "We have been playing very well so far. We are very confident but we know perfectly well how difficult it is to go all the way in this competition.

Liverpool match
"Last season we were in more or less the same situation but failed to beat Liverpool [FC] after a very close tie," he added. "We were a bit unlucky against Liverpool, but small things can decide who qualifies in these kind of games and we will have to be fully focused for 180 minutes against Bremen."

Personal accolade
Despite the defeat against Liverpool, 2004/05 proved to be another great season in Turin for Nedvěd as the Bianconeri won the Serie A title and he was voted into the uefa.com's users Team of 2005. "These prizes are always special for me because the fans vote for them and we play for the fans," he said.

Next challenge
Reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League would doubtless nudge Nedvěd a little bit closer to the uefa.com users' Team of 2006, and with the game against Bremen in mind, the player was certain that his side had the measure of their German opponents.

Bremen assessment
"We know them really well and have prepared to face them in the best possible way," he said. "They are having a very good season in the Bundesliga and they are a typical German side - very combative and well-organised. We will have two difficult games for sure, especially the one in Germany."

Imperious form
Bremen, however, cannot have failed to notice how imperious Juventus have been in Italy this season. They hold a ten-point lead over AC Milan at the top of the table having won 21 of their 26 games. They also came close to a perfect record in the UEFA Champions League group stage, winning five games but losing one.

Motivation level
"I think our main strength has been the consistency so far," Nedvěd explained. "We have managed to play every game with the same level of motivation, no matter whether we were facing the strongest teams in Europe or the bottom sides in Serie A. We have to continue doing this."

Tireless worker
A self-confessed workaholic, maintaining that level of commitment should proved to be no problem for Nedvěd, but what has been crucial to the overall form of the side this season has been the example set every day in training by Juventus's exacting coach Fabio Capello.

Absolute commitment
"He doesn't waste a single minute when we are training," said Nedvěd. "He is always focused and determined and he demands the same from us. This is what I like the most about him." If that approach bears fruit, Nedvěd's dream of playing in a UEFA Champions League final could yet come true on 17 May.