Zürich not despairing as Milan come calling
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Article summary
Back to something approaching their best form, FC Zürich are optimistic about turning around a 3-1 deficit at home against AC Milan in the UEFA Cup, with Hannu Tihinen saying: "We have worked hard to get better."
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Mass defections
The price of success can be even higher than the cost of failure, as Zürich discovered in the wake of their 2005/06 and 2006/07 Swiss title successes. A team built around young talent and the short passing game of coach Lucien Favre was quickly stripped bare by foreign clubs. Favre was lured to Hertha BSC Berlin along with Steve von Bergen and Brazilian star Rafael, while Gökhan Inler (Udinese Calcio), Blerim Dzemaili (Bolton Wanderers FC) and Xavier Margairaz (CA Osasuna) all sought new opportunities in Europe's top leagues.
Huge gap
Replacing so many talented individuals proved to be a massive task for Favre's successor Bernard Challandes, and captain Tihinen – who has battled a series of injuries in the recent seasons – said: "Integrating so many new players did give us some problems." Zürich's big signing of 2007, Tunisian Yassine Chikhaoui, was laid off for long spells last season, and given the changes in the squad, it was hardly a shock that Zürich finished third in the league last season, 18 points adrift of champions FC Basel 1893.
Genuine hope
That was enough to earn the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup, however, but having got past SK Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round, Challandes' side were handed the unenviable task of taking on Milan. They lost 3-1 in the first leg at San Siro, but with the sold-out return at the Letzigrund Stadion fast approaching, there is genuine hope that Zürich are showing the kind of form that can cause the Italian giants problems.
Undoubted potential
After claiming a fourth successive Super League win at home to Neuchâtel Xamax FC at the weekend, Zürich are second in the standings behind Basel, their success aided by a clutch of young stars. Senior national team coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has called 21-year-old midfielder Almen Abdi into his side, and both Heinz Barmettler and striker Admir Mehmedi are impressing in the junior ranks. "I have never doubted the potential of this team," explained Tihinen, who hopes his side's good form can help him regain a regular spot back into the Finland senior team. "We have worked hard to get better, and we know our playing style off by heart."