Ketsbaia on mission to derail Inter

Anorthosis Famagusta FC coach Temuri Ketsbaia admits his side "need the support of our fans more than ever" as they attempt to deny Group B leaders FC Internazionale Milano an early entry into the knockout rounds.

Surprise package
Ketsbaia's Cypriot champions defied the odds merely by negotiating their way around SK Rapid Wien and Olympiacos CFP and into the group stage. Yet having arrived in these uncharted waters, the minnows have hardly looked out of their depth, following up a draw at Werder Bremen with a victory against Panathinaikos FC in Nicosia last month. That 3-1 scoreline means Anorthosis have won all their home games in European competition this season, although they face their biggest test on Tuesday night against an Inter team who beat them 1-0 in Milan last time out.

Support
The hosts' task was made more complicated after it was confirmed that key trio Sávio, Traianos Dellas and captain Nikos Nikolaou are all out through injury, leaving Ketsbaia to call for reinforcements both on and off the pitch. "We're calling on everybody to come and support us," said the 40-year-old Georgian. "We have shown time and time again that we are a good side capable of competing at this level. We need the support of our fans more than ever, though – we need them to help us overcome our injury problems. It won't be easy against Inter but none of our games till now have been easy. Playing in front of a stadium full of our supporters, it can be done."

Heavy defeat
Nikolaou sustained an ankle injury in the chastening 4-0 defeat by AC Omonia on 27 October, which was Anorthosis's first Division A loss since April 2007 – ending a 38-match unbeaten run. That disappointment was increased by the sight of Dellas limping off late on after pulling a muscle, and if Friday's 2-0 victory against APOP / Kinyras Peyias FC brought a return to winning ways, it came at a price as Sávio picked up a knock. "The injuries are a problem but the most serious problem is the fact we're playing Inter," said Ketsbaia, whose second-placed outfit lie three points behind the visitors. "You just have to accept that players get injured and hope those who come in do a good job."

Mourinho warning
Ketsbaia's Inter counterpart José Mourinho has absentees of his own, as Sulley Muntari and Cristian Chivu are sidelined, the latter after injuring his knee at Reggina Calcio on Saturday – where a rare Iván Córdoba strike in added time secured a 3-2 win. Adriano is also unavailable as he serves an internal club suspension after arriving late for training. Mourinho, though, is not taking the Nerazzurri's Matchday 4 opponents lightly. "Maybe others have come here thinking they could not lose," he said. "But Anorthosis are a well-organised team, strong at the back, they work very hard and risk absolutely nothing. We have not come here to lose, though. We're going for the win. Serie A is a long road but in the Champions League you cannot afford mistakes. If we lost, we would have to beat Panathinaikos and that's never easy." Victory in Nicosia would eliminate that necessity.