Time to turn the tide

By Kevin Ashby

Form, or a lack of it, will not come into consideration when Internazionale FC, coached by Héctor Cúper, tackle his former club, Valencia CF, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final in Milan on Wednesday.

Hopes dashed
The Spanish champions have won just once in their last eight outings in all competitions - against Arsenal FC to maintain their tradition of reaching the last eight in each of their forays into the competition - while Inter's hopes of securing a first Scudetto since 1989 diminished as AS Roma fought back to salvage a 3-3 draw at the San Siro on Sunday.

Realistic chance
It followed a 2-1 defeat by Udinese Calcio, leaving Inter five points adrift of league leaders Juventus FC with seven games remaining and meaning the Champions League may represent their most realistic chance of silverware this season. Likewise Valencia who slipped 13 points behind Real Madrid CF with a 2-0 loss at Real Betis Balompié in the Primera División on Saturday.

'Spectators worry'
"Results in the league cannot affect our morale in the Champions League," said Cúper, "they are two different competitions. It is the same for Valencia. It is more a case of the spectators getting worried than the players. Against Roma we didn't concentrate and were punished - we need to work out how to correct these mistakes but players are not machines; mistakes are inevitable."

Previous meeting
There will be an air of familiarity about proceedings. Cúper coached Valencia with distinction, leading them to successive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, though each was lost. There will also be more than a smattering of talent on show from Argentina, Cúper's homeland, while the clubs contested a UEFA Cup quarter-final last season, Inter winning 2-1 on aggregate.

Lucky omen
Wednesday's referee, Germany's Markus Merk, took charge of the drawn first leg in Italy in March last year. Inter followed up that match with a derby victory against AC Milan - their opponents on Saturday - and a 1-0 success at the Mestalla. History repeating itself would suit Cúper as he faces mounting media pressure.

'Defensive stability'
He continued: "We must not forget that this is a 180-minute match; nothing will be decided tomorrow. I must try to keep my players calm and not think about the derby. Valencia refuse to give up and have very good defensive stability, but I believe that we have a chance to win."

Duo return
Inter will be at full strength for the fixture as Alvaro Recoba and Christian Vieri, scorer of 24 league goals, return from suspension. That fate has befallen Valencia central defender Mauricio Pellegrino, while Curro Torres and Kily González are longer-term absentees.

'Not impossible'
Rafael Benítez is bidding to outshine his predecessor, Cúper, and guide Valencia to final success at Old Trafford. The bridesmaid's tag obviously hurts, and the Spaniards are determined to shed it. "It will be difficult but not impossible," said Benítez of the task. "In away games in Europe teams usually expect you to play for a draw but I assure you we will try to score and win."

'Spirit counts'
Of the eight quarter-finalists, Valencia were the only team to advance with a negative goal difference. Benítez was unconcerned, saying: "Statistics count for nothing in this kind of match, the spirit with which you play counts." In a match which pits together two evenly matched sides, spirit, and luck, could well prove decisive.