Buoyant Naybet backs Deportivo

By Matthew Spiro

RC Deportivo La Coruña defender Nourredine Naybet is convinced his side can go all the way in this season's UEFA Champions League, despite being drawn against their old rivals Juventus FC in the first knock-out round. 
 
Close call
When Deportivo take the field against the Italian champions at the Riazor on Wednesday it will be the seventh time the two sides have met in the past four seasons. While Juventus got the better of Javier Irureta's team in the second group-match stage last season - winning 3-2 at home and drawing 2-2 away - the overall record could hardly be closer, with both clubs winning once and sharing four draws.

Rough justice
Naybet is convinced there will be little to chose between the sides once again this season. "It's amazing that we have been drawn together for the fourth year running - I'm not sure what we've done to deserve that," he smiled. "Every time we play Juventus it's a fantastic contest and I'm looking forward to it. The matches are unpredictable - sometimes we both attack and there are four or five goals and sometimes we are both cagey and it finishes 0-0. The only constant is that the matches are close, and it won't be any different on Wednesday." 

No surprises
Deportivo qualified from the group stage with some difficulty, memorably losing 8-3 at AS Monaco FC before edging through courtesy of a superior head-to-head record against PSV Eindhoven. But Naybet, who captained Morocco to the runners-up spot in the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, dismissed the suggestion that the psychological blow of conceding eight goals in one match could hamper the Spanish team's chances. "Nothing surprises me in football anymore," shrugged the 34-year-old, currently enjoying his eighth season with Deportivo.

Down to experience
"I wasn't shocked that we conceded eight goals," he added. "These things can happen, but the important thing is that you learn from the experience and then put it out of your head completely. The beauty of football is that however bad a day you have, there will always be the chance to put things right the following week. We're an experienced team and there is no way we'd let one bad result destroy our confidence. We know we have the quality to go a long way in the Champions League this season." 
 
Stable squad
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal stopper believes Deportivo's strength lies in their ability to retain the same core group of players season after season. "We know each other so well because the team changes very little," explained Naybet. "This stability has helped the coach construct a powerful squad and today we have two or three players for every position. Therefore, if we lose a quality player - like we did when Roy Makaay moved to [FC] Bayern [München] - it's not a disaster because we have other excellent players like Walter Pandiani, Alberto Luque and Diego Tristán who can score the goals."

Confidence high
Naybet is also optimistic that Deportivo can repeat the achievements of 1999/00 by winning the Spanish title for a second time - despite slipping six points behind the leaders Real Madrid CF. "Our problem this season has been that we've lost a couple of home games we wouldn't usually lose," he said. "That's why we are behind Madrid and Valencia [CF]. But the gap is not too big so if we string a run together you never know."

Famous double
With Naybet's side in good spirits, a famous Champions League and Primera División double is still in Deportivo's sights.