Valencia wary of Adriano ambition

By Graham Hunter in Valencia

The meeting between Valencia CF against FC Internazionale Milano is shaping up as an opportunity to smash Italian footballing stereotypes as much as a fight to win Group G.

'Play to win'
Asked whether he feared a 'catenaccio' approach from the visiting side, who currently have maximum points, Valencia's Italian coach Claudio Ranieri laughed aloud and told his audience: "Roberto Mancini is their coach and he always wants his team to play like he did. That is to say he wants quality, style and to play to win every time."

Defensive worries
Ranieri's team, who defeated RSC Anderlecht in their first game but lost on Matchday 2 to Werder Bremen, do not currently fit any old-fashioned Italian stereotype either. Not only did the Spanish title-holders hand out a 5-1 away thrashing to RC Deportivo La Coruña earlier in the season, but they have also led 1-0 in each of their last three domestic or Champions League games and failed to protect the advantage.

Ranieri dilemma
"It may be a lack of concentration," admitted former Chelsea FC manager Ranieri. "But it may also be the change of coach! When we were playing really well I did ask the team to go out and score three or four more after getting the first one. Perhaps now is the moment just to make sure that if we have a lead we keep it."

Albelda warning
His captain, David Albelda, went further. "We have to control games better than we are and if it means playing uglier football and defending deep then we will have to do that," he said. That may make for the odd sight of the visitors making all the play in the Mestalla while the home side play on the counterattack.

Adriano ability
Inter possess one of the most exciting and dangerous players in the world at the moment in Adriano, who scored a sublime solo goal in Sunday's 3-1 victory against Udinese Calcio. "I tried to sign Adriano for Chelsea and came very close to doing so last January," said Ranieri. "Maybe the only way for us to stop him playing is to switch the floodlights out so he cannot see."

Modest Mancini
However Mancini, whose S.S. Lazio side of last season were eliminated by Chelsea in last year's group stage, is treating such irony with total scepticism. "Claudio is a great friend of mine - but I have to point out that his team beat mine in the Champions League twice last season. He asks his teams to play football, rather than just block out opponents. However, we are not here to draw, we are here to win."

Team first
Of course, having Adriano helps - and the striker is still excited by the events of the weekend. "It was great scoring such a beautiful goal," said Adriano, "And I would love to do the same against Valencia. But I am a player who puts the needs and the objectives of the team first. Rather than look for great goals I just want to help the team win the Champions League and Serie A."

Selection questions
Mancini is yet to decide between goalkeepers Francesco Toldo and Alberto Fontana having dropped Toldo in favour of the 37-year-old at the weekend. Ranieri, on the other hand, is still missing defenders Roberto Ayala, Carlos Marchena and Fábio Aurélio, and striker Mista through a mixture of injury, illness and suspension. Marco Caneira is likely to form the crucial central defensive partnership with David Navarro and late decisions will be taken on both Vicente Rodríguez and Miguel Angulo.