Čech wary of wounded rivals
Monday, October 30, 2006
Article summary
FC Porto defender Marek Čech is expecting a tough game at Hamburger SV despite an impressive 4-1 win against the German side in Portugal on Matchday 3.
Article body
FC Porto revived their UEFA Champions League campaign on Matchday 3 with a convincing 4-1 win in pouring rain against Group G strugglers Hamburger SV, and as they visit Germany hoping to stay in contention defender Marek Čech says their young team is starting to come of age.
Catching leaders
Since their José Mourinho-led UEFA Champions League triumph in 2003/04, Porto have endured an unstable time with six changes of coach and mixed European form. Their 2006/07 group stage bid began with a disappointing 0-0 home draw against PFC CSKA Moskva and defeat at Arsenal FC, but the victory against Hamburg lifts them to within two points of the second-placed Gunners. Another good result against the Bundesliga side could take Porto into the top two but Čech believes it will be tough, even facing a team yet to secure a point.
'Different matter'
"It will be a very different match," Čech told uefa.com. "We scored four at home, but it will be a different matter in Germany - the weather will be different, maybe better for them than us. Other factors could also push them to a good result, but we will try and win there." Even the 4-1 result was more tricky than the scoreline suggests. "It was not so easy against Hamburg, you have to play well," Čech said.
Improving
Still, the victory got Porto off the mark, and the 23-year-old Slovakian believes the squad are growing into the premier European competition. "We are a young team, we are improving only now in the UEFA Champions League," Čech said. "Starting the competition [against CSKA], the first game is harder than the others. Then the game at Arsenal was very tough - we didn't create chances. Back at home in front of our fans we scored plenty, and that is good."
'Pushes us forward'
Indeed, Čech feels the confidence from that win a fortnight ago could yet propel the Portuguese champions through from a hard group, with a trip to Moscow and visit of Arsenal to come. "I feel very happy because we won 4-1," he said. "It was a very good result and we got three points which was important. I think the forthcoming games will be very important for us but this result pushes us forward."
