Bento bemoans Sporting misfortune

Coach Paulo Bento was left ruing Sporting Clube de Portugal's failure to take more than a point from their meetings with AS Roma as the Portuguese side ended their Group F campaign with an impressive victory against FC Dynamo Kyiv in Lisbon. Bento at least has the consolation of a UEFA Cup campaign in the spring, although his opposite number Oleh Luzhny – who steps down after the game to be replaced by Yuri Semin in January – admitted his side had been outclassed after becoming only the eighth club in the 16-year history of the UEFA Champions League to end a group stage without collecting a single point.

Paulo Bento, Sporting coach
We ended the campaign in the best way. We played well and with caution, with the exception of a short period during the second half. We were worthy winners although the margin of victory was flattering. We're not favourites for the UEFA Cup but the approach will be the same as in the Champions League – to be better then the opposition. The most important objective for this match was achieved; to win. We scored goals, didn't concede and now we must pick up six league points before the end of 2007. We could have been playing for a place in last 16, that would have been the fairest thing based on our performances, but we paid for the bad results in both games against Roma. Things didn't run well in those matches. Away from home we lacked concentration at times and that was fatal. [At home] we were unhappy at drawing 2-2 [with Roma on Matchday 4], which ended our realistic hopes.

Oleh Luzhny, Dynamo coach
We didn't show any character or spirit, so we can't play at this level. Character is in each player's heart. When I pick a player I trust in him. I cannot do any more, I can't play for him. Dynamo's side is not that different to in the past – for example in 1992/93 we also suffered defeats – and the game today is not that different either. Before the match I believed we could win but it didn't happen; mistakes were made, that's football. This is of course a special game for me but things didn’t go our way. Sporting were the happier side and enjoyed some luck.