UEFA Futsal Cup team profile: Inter FS
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Article summary
The only three-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners, Inter FS are hosting the finals in Guadalajara near Madrid after ending a six-year absence from the last four.
Article top media content
Article body
The only three-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners, Inter FS lost to FC Dynamo in the last minute of the decider in the first modern four-team finals of 2007.
They have since made two finals, winning in 2009 but losing to Benfica a year later, though their record tally of five finals has since been overtaken by Dynamo. Barcelona have represented Spain in the last four final tournaments more recently, but Inter are now back after an elite-round exit to Sporting CP last season, and are hosting the event in Guadajalara, where in March they won the Spanish Futsal Cup. On Friday, they clinched first place in the Spanish regular season and play-off top seeding with a 7-4 win at Zaragoza.
Inter FS (ESP)
- v Pescara (Friday, 20.30CET)
Finals appearances since 2007: 3 (2007, 2009, 2010)
Best performance: winners 2004, 2006, 2009
Preliminary round: bye
Main round: bye
Elite round: Dobovec 8-0, Kremlin Bicêtre United 10-2. Lidselmash Lida 4-2 (Group A winners)
Top scorer: Cardinal 6
Key players: Ortiz, Ricardinho, Cardinal
League position: first (regular season winners)
- Three questions: Ricardinho
Inter have won the Futsal Cup three times but are back in the final tournament for the first time in six years. What does that mean for the club?
It is without a doubt the most important competition of this year. It is our main objective for this season so we are really looking forward for the semi-final. We want to win it and to advance to the final, where we'll also aim to succeed.
Will home advantage help, or will it increase the pressure on the players?
It will be a good thing for us to play in Spain because we'll be able receive the support from the Spanish fans, but the truth is that we won't be playing in our own venue so any kind of advantage will be marginal at best. As for pressure, I don't agree that it will be any higher than usual.
What do you think of Pescara?
To be honest, I don't know them that well but they must have a lot of quality to be one of the four best teams in Europe. I know a lot of their players, like Gréllo and Betão, and I'm certain that they will cause all sorts of problems.