Mancini taking nothing for granted
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Article summary
Group B: "Very difficult" was Roberto Mancini's take on a pool that includes former European champions FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München.
Article body
Good omens
Inter will have happier memories of facing the section's other sides, Sporting Clube de Portugal and FC Spartak Moskva. They got the better of the Portuguese outfit in the semi-final of their victorious 1991 UEFA Cup campaign and overcame Spartak at the same stage of the 1998 UEFA Cup, en route to lifting the trophy again. Good omens then, but like Bayern, they will not be taking anything for granted against opponents with no shortage of European experience: Sporting were UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners in 1964 and UEFA Cup finalists two seasons ago, while down the years Spartak have been semi-finalists in each of the traditional three major UEFA club competitions.
Vladimir Fedotov, Spartak coach
I am philosophical about the draw. The group stage lasts three months and it's hard to predict which team will be in what condition on any given day. We've played all three teams in the recent past but apart from Yegor Titov, that was a different Spartak.
Carlos Freitas, Sporting director
It's a difficult group. It's not worth dwelling here on the difficulties we're going to face, but one thing I can guarantee is that we'll give it our best to reach the next round.
Roberto Mancini, Inter coach
It is a very difficult group but this is the Champions League and that's to be expected. To be honest, I think other seeded teams had better luck than us, at least on paper. We have to face some very good and famous sides. They all play different kinds of football but they have one thing in common: when we face them, they will have played more minutes of their seasons and will be in better condition than us as Serie A will start late. We have to prepare ourselves as well as possible, both mentally and physically, if we want to progress.
Felix Magath, Bayern coach
Inter have made massive signings and are on a level with Chelsea [FC] and [FC] Barcelona. This is a real challenge. We have the opportunity to compete with a top club. Portuguese teams are not bad – Sporting are a side who can play football.