Kanouté wary of Spurs firepower

Frédéric Kanouté has warned that Sevilla FC will have to do more than keep in-form Dimitar Berbatov at bay if they are to reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals at the expense of his former club Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Inside knowledge
Berbatov has scored seven times in this season's competition to propel Tottenham to the last eight, and having spent two years at White Hart Lane, Kanouté knows just how many attacking weapons the Londoners have in their armoury.

'Strong and fast'
If the sight of two of Europe's leading forwards facing off in tonight's first leg at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium gives the tie an added edge, Kanouté insists Tottenham's threat is spread throughout the team. "I don't know Berbatov that well," Kanouté told uefa.com. "I've only watched him a couple of times on television. In any case, you have to watch out for their midfield pushing forward. That's where they're strong and fast and the danger can hit you from anywhere."

No hard feelings
The France-born Malian international tops the Primera División scoring chart with 19 strikes, spearheading Sevilla's three-pronged hunt for honours. His career has taken off since he was sold by Tottenham to Sevilla for €6.5m at the start of last term, and understandably he holds no animosity towards his old team. "I don't see it as a grudge match, it's just a football match. I don't mind who we play, although I'm really looking forward to this tie. I think I had two good seasons at Tottenham and the crowd have good memories of me."

'More contact'
Kanouté, 29, has thrived in Sevilla's attack-minded lineup, feeding off the service of Daniel Alves and Jesús Navas in particular. His success with the UEFA Cup holders may have caught Tottenham fans by surprise, yet Kanouté is keen to defend his Premiership record with both West Ham United and Spurs. "It's true I score more goals here, although I did score there as well and I played well during that time. I think the way football is played here has an influence - it's more tactical and technical. In the Premier League, the referee allows more contact."

Personal honour
Kanouté was on target in Sevilla's 4-0 UEFA Cup final triumph against Middlesbrough FC as well as their subsequent UEFA Super Cup victory over FC Barcelona. A few more goals this term and Spain's foremost forward could soon have more to celebrate. "If we manage to win another trophy this season, it would be perfect - if I then achieve a personal accolade then all the better."

This is based on a story that appears in the uefa.com Magazine. To read this week's edition, please click here.