Sleepless nights face northern lights
Friday, July 30, 2004
Article summary
uefa.com rounds up the reaction from the teams in the Northern group for the UEFA Cup draw.
Article body
Glentoran FC v IF Elfsborg
Glentoran coach Roy Coyle: "Too many of our clubs think of European football as a two-match season played in the summer. That kind of attitude will not get us anywhere. We may only have won one game so far but it's a start. The more matches we can win, the better our overall co-efficient will be and then we might start getting drawn against teams we should beat rather than the ones we hope to."
KSK Beveren v FC Vaduz
Odd Grenland v FK Ekranas
Ekranas head coach Virginijus Liubšys: "It is not the worst of outcomes. We did not want to face Brøndby or Hammarby."
FK Ventspils v Brøndby IF
Ventspils midfield player Aleksandr Rekhviashvili: "Brøndby are a very strong and powerful team. I think we were a bit unlucky with the draw. I expected to play against a Norwegian side, but we've got the Danes instead. However there is no reason for panic. We'll have 180 minutes to play and I hope that in the end Ventspils will go through."
ÍA Akranes v Hammarby
Stabæk IF v FC Haka
Haka head coach Olli Stabæk: "It was a very interesting draw. Stabaek will undoubtedly be a tough test for us. We will be able to see where we stand at European level."
FK Bodø/Glimt v FC Levadia Tallinn
Levadia head coach Tarmo Rüütli: "All Norwegian clubs are strong, but I was under no illusion anyway - there are no weak teams at this stage of the competition. However, I reckon the chances are 50-50 at the moment. They are strong and confident, but I believe we have enough attacking qualities to cause them problems."
FH Hafnarfjördur v Dunfermline AFC
Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston: "It was either going to be Lithuania or Latvia otherwise in the draw, so we are quite happy with a trip to Iceland and the fact we are away from home first. After many years away from European football we are in it, which is the main thing and we will take it as it comes."
FK Žalgiris Vilnius v Aalborg BK
Žalgiris coach Kestutis Latoža: "The draw did not do us any favours. We have got a strong opponent and we have to play the first leg at home, which also is not very pleasing."
Östers IF v FHK Liepajas Metalurgs
Metalurh sporting director Aleksandr Rokoza: "It's an okay draw. Clearly, we can compete with Östers. At this moment I can't say anything about our opponents, but from now on we will begin to study this team. We'll definitely make it tough for the Swedes."