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Zenga savours Steaua success

Group B reaction: FC Steaua Bucuresti are in top spot while R. Standard de Liège are happy at least.

We produced a big performance and, honestly speaking, I had only five minutes of panic - after the 80th minute - when Besiktas had three very good opportunities. Unfortunately, the Besiktas players did not the provide the best example of fair play, scoring their goal when one of our players was injured in our penalty area. Concerning the sending-off of Daniel Oprita, I won't say anything against him because he had a great game and worked so hard. This result is a big step forward for us, but we have not qualified yet. It would be a great personal and collective achievement to qualify. Steaua coach Walter Zenga

Neither team played much football tonight, the main reason being the condition of the pitch. We started badly and conceded two quick goals. Our bad start became an advantage for the opposition. Although we attacked in the final ten minutes, we could not find the goal we needed. Besiktas coach Vicente Del Bosque

Obviously I am very satisfied. I think in the first half my players showed too much respect for Parma. But in the second half we did not do that, and it became a real cup tie with aggressive play and a will to win. You could see the difference between Parma and Standard - they were playing for a draw, slowing down the game in order to steal time, while we really wanted to win this one. Karel Geraerts, in particular, had an excellent match, he gets better with every game, and he deserved his goal as he was involved in a lot of dangerous situations. The fact Steaua won shows there are no weak teams, so it is a good thing we won this one. Now we have every chance of making progress so I am a happy man tonight. Standard coach Dominque D'Onofrio

Losing like we did left a bitter taste in the mouth. We were the better side in the first half and we had two great opportunities to score in the second. Now I just hope the team will react promptly to this defeat, starting on Sunday [against UC Sampdoria]. Parma defender Paolo Cannavaro

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