Koné convinced Chelsea are only human
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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Forward Yssouf Koné believes reputations count for little as his CFR 1907 Cluj team prepare to host Chelsea FC, with the 26-year-old Burkina Faso international maintaining that he is "not afraid of anybody".
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It was Argentinian midfielder Juan Culio who grabbed the headlines on Matchday 1 with a double strike in CFR 1907 Cluj's 2-1 win at AS Roma, but Yssouf Koné could pose just as serious a threat against Chelsea FC on Wednesday.
Scoring knack
The 26-year-old forward has a knack of getting important goals wherever he plays. He registered for Rosenborg BK against Valencia CF and FC Schalke 04 in last season's UEFA Champions League group stage and also scored three times in as many games for the Norwegians in this year's UEFA Intertoto Cup before joining CFR in the summer. His first strike for the Romanian champions – one of two goals against FC Farul Constanţa on 21 September – was the club's 500th in the top flight. However, he is not particularly concerned about getting on the scoresheet on Matchday 2. "What is most important is that we play together as a team," he said. "Whether I score or not doesn't really matter."
Biggest game
The Burkina Faso international has not exactly followed a well-trodden career path. A natural globetrotter, he represented sides in Italy, Morocco and China before spending two and a half years in Norway with Rosenborg. Now he is facing what he describes as "without doubt the biggest game of my career so far". So how to prepare for such a challenge? "No differently from any other game." Unfazed, Koné is relishing the chance to come up against defenders as formidable as John Terry or Alex. "I have played against Chelsea before [for Rosenborg in last season's group stage] so I know them pretty well. And in any case, I'm not afraid of anybody. Just respectful."
Excitement
Having sampled the UEFA Champions League last term, he is delighted to be back. "You can really feel the excitement here," he said. "Rosenborg had played in the tournament on a number of occasions, but this is our first time so there is a big difference. You can see that our players are still learning how to compete at this level. But I think we are ready for Chelsea, and I believe we have a chance. Obviously we know it's going to be a tough game, but it is still eleven against eleven. Who knows what can happen?"