Inter face contest of champions

FC Internazionale Milano come up against three other reigning domestic champions in UEFA Champions League Group G as they begin their attempt to prove they can match city rivals AC Milan by claiming the continent's premier club competition.

Contrasting styles
PSV Eindhoven, PFC CSKA Moskva and Fenerbahçe SK are all likely to prove tough opposition for the Italian champions as Inter coach Roberto Mancini acknowledged when he said his side would have to overcome "completely different styles of football". Only PSV and Fenerbahçe of the four sides in the section have met before in UEFA club competition, with the home team coming out on top in each of the four games played.

Roberto Mancini, Inter coach
When you play in an important competition like the UEFA Champions League it's impossible to make a ranking among which teams are more difficult to face. At this level all the teams are important and difficult to face and this is surely the case for the teams we have in our group. We are to play teams with a very good tradition and representing completely different European styles of football. It is definitely a fascinating group.

Ronald Koeman, PSV coach
It's not an unfavourable draw, although there are two long trips in Istanbul and Moscow. The difficulty with these two opponents, Fenerbahçe and CSKA, obviously lies in the away matches. Inter are a massive club in the best traditions of Italy and the reigning champions. They have a number of players who have featured in the Eredivisie. We know how strong Turkish teams are at home, they try to use the atmosphere to their advantage. PSV experienced that not so long ago. CSKA are also a good team, although we play there in late November and that could have an impact.

CSKA coach Valeri Gazzaev
We got a good draw. After Liverpool and Porto were put together it crossed my mind we would be there too but it turned out to be different. We still have quite notable rivals and importantly they are all champions of their countries. Inter are a little better but all the rest are approximately level. I believe we have good chance to qualify from the group and we will do our best to do so.

Ali Bilgin, Fenerbahçe midfielder
All the teams who make it into the Champions League group stage are very strong. When we look at the group, I think we have a chance to qualify for the next round. If we perform as we played in our recent games, we may succeed. We will do our best to represent our country and our team. We have this in mind.