Culio tips CFR Cluj to keep on rising
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Article summary
Midfielder Juan Culio went from swapping shirts with "the best player in the world" Frank Lampard to talking up CFR 1907 Cluj's chances of winning Group A ahead of Chelsea FC after the clubs drew 0-0 in Romania.
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'Great chance'
The home fans unveiled a giant Dracula banner before kick-off, and in the end it was the visitors who were left looking anaemic as Maurizio Trombetta's side almost took all three points with a late siege on Petr Čech's goal. "Obviously I'm delighted to draw with a team like Chelsea, but we could have won it at the end," said Portuguese defender Tony, who put in a solid shift at right-back. "I don't think anyone expected us to play so well, but after tonight we must have a great chance of progressing to the next round."
No pressure
Having won 2-1 at AS Roma on Matchday 1, CFR Cluj have four points along with the Londoners and will be confident of adding to that tally when they meet point-less FC Girondins de Bordeaux away and home in their next two fixtures. Yssouf Koné, whose tireless running gave John Terry and Alex an uncomfortable evening in the heart of the Chelsea defence, added: "We're one of the smallest clubs in the competition, so we're not really under any pressure. We did finish the stronger team, but at the end of the day one point is OK. To be honest, I don't think Chelsea were in their best form."
Strange territory
Juan Culio, the two-goal hero of Rome, summed up the strange territory that his team now find themselves in. "I swapped shirts with Frank Lampard after the game, which is great because I think he's the best player in the world," he said, sounding like an awestruck schoolboy before switching back to confident footballer. "We want first place in the group. It would give us a kinder draw in the next round."
Lampard praise
Culio's idol reflected on what was a tricky night for Chelsea. "It was a tight game, and we could have lost it at the end, but we could also have won it," said Lampard, who also had plenty of praise for the opposition. "They are a good side. I think that generally Romanian teams are technically strong and with the crowd behind them it was always going to be difficult." Without Deco or Joe Cole to provide the creative spark in midfield, Chelsea were uncharacteristically short of ideas. And ultimately it was the hosts who captured the imagination with another courageous display.
Culio will be in the Talk Football chatroom at 16.00CET so log on then to put your questions to him.