Crabbé has 'faith' in Wezemaal

FCL Rapide Wezemaal coach Vic Crabbé says he has "faith" in his team to put in a respectable display against Umeå IK on Thursday in the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-final second leg.

Proud coach
After a 4-0 humbling in Belgium last week, Wezemaal's prospects of reaching the semi-final all but disappeared. And ahead of the return, Crabbé is hoping for an improved performance against their Swedish opponents. "It is a match in which we hope to avoid looking ridiculous," said Crabbé. "But I have faith in my team. Despite the 4-0 defeat, I can only be proud of my girls as never before have we seen so much female football talent on a Belgian pitch before."

'Best team'
Wezemaal recently recovered from 3-0 down in the final 20 minutes against Standard Fémina de Liège to triumph 4-3. However midfielder Inge Heirem is not expecting the same turnaround on Thursday, against a team she admits are among the strongest in the world. "I do not see much of the Swedish league, but this Umeå side is the best team I have ever played against," said Heirem, who scored twice in last Saturday’s 8-1 League victory against DV Famkes Merkem. "Marta and Ramona Bachman were almost unplayable."

Contract extensions
Umeå headed into the tie boosted by the news that FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta and Swiss starlet Ramona Bachmann, scorers in the first leg, have agreed new contracts, while Danish international Johanna Rasmussen has also penned fresh terms. And with a commanding lead over their Belgian visitors, Umeå coach Andrée Jeglertz is confident his team will secure a semi-final berth, saying: "If we play like we can and should, we'll be fine. I think we played well in Belgium and everyone was really focused and up for the task. We've got a fully-fit squad and we've managed to maintain a good energy level despite the fact that our [domestic] season is now over".

Retirement
One sour note for Jeglertz has been the news that Maria Bergqvist's appearance in the second leg will be her last for the club after being advised to retire due to a knee complaint. "It's a huge blow," said Bergqvist, who has been with the club for nine years. "When the doctor told me that I had to quit football I was really sad, but now I can only hope for a good end to my career."