Marica to trample on Timişoara hopes

Optimists still think FC Timişoara can overturn a 2-0 deficit at VfB Stuttgart, but the German side's Romanian forward Ciprian Marica believes his countrymen will enjoy no change in the second leg.

'We are better'
Timişoara arrive in Germany hoping for a minor footballing miracle, but the 23-year-old Marica – a €7m signing from FC Shakhtar Donetsk in summer 2007 – cannot see it happening. "Timişoara are a good side," he said. "We know about the threat they pose. They showed that in knocking Shakhtar out of the UEFA Champions League. They have a solid central defence – Marián Cišovský is a great player – and they have quality in attack with Gheorghe Bucur. But we are better. We want to play in the group stage and we are fully focused on winning this match. We will try to win and to do that we have to score goals. We cannot allow them to take the match to us."

Proving ground
Marica himself is desperate to get on the scoresheet having been in and out of the first XI in recent weeks, with his record of six goals in 56 league games for Stuttgart representing something of a disappointment. He played well against Timişoara last week but did not score and was back on the bench for the weekend's 1-1 draw with BV Borussia Dortmund. "I expected more of myself in the first leg," Marica admitted. "It was the coach's decision not to play me at Dortmund. I'm ready to give my best, no matter who we're up against. I'm ready whenever the coach needs me."

Starting place
Markus Babbel is expected to give him another start at home against Timişoara, and Marica is keen to impress as he looks to compete with youngster Julian Schieber and summer signing Pavel Pogrebnyak for a first-team place. "I have to accept squad rotation," he said. "It's not like it doesn't matter who I am alongside, but I have to play my game I can do that with any other of our strikers. Competition within the team is good for all of us. If I start scoring, I'm certain I will keep my starting place."