Rochemback surveys Sporting task

By Fernando Duarte

Sporting Clube de Portugal's attacking midfielder Fabio Rochemback hopes a burning desire to emulate the European success of rivals FC Porto will drive them towards the UEFA Cup final at their Estádio José Alvalade in May.

Dreams of glory
The Lisbon club travel to Middlesbrough FC for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie tonight, with the influential Brazilian warning the English Premiership side that Sporting fancy their chances of glory this season.

'Very determined'
"I hope Middlesbrough enjoy their visit to Lisbon for the second leg but it will be the last chance they get to check out our stadium," Rochemback told uefa.com "The UEFA Cup final is taking place at our home ground so we are all very determined to keep on playing in this competition until the very end this year.

'We're a great club'
"Porto and [SL] Benfica have done well in Europe in the last couple of decades but we feel it is our time now," he continued. "It is a dream for all Sporting supporters to win the UEFA Cup. They want a European trophy so much and the players feel that desire every time we play at home in a European competition. They need something from us to show Benfica and Porto that we are a great club as well."

Good travellers
José Peseiro's team are currently involved in a five-way battle for the Portuguese SuperLiga title, sitting in fourth place just three points behind joint-leaders Porto and Benfica. Their UEFA Cup form is impressive too, particularly away from home, with Sporting having conceded just two goals in four away games, winning and drawing two apiece, including a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough's north-east neighbours Newcastle United FC.

Praise for Boro
Not that the 23-year-old former FC Barcelona and SC Internacional player is taking anything for granted this evening. "Middlesbrough were accused of being a boring defensive team in the last round, but from what I've seen they are a great side. They are very experienced and never give up even when they are in a bad situation on the pitch, so I don't think it will be easy to see them off at any stage of this tie.

'Physical and competitive'
"We had a really hard match against Newcastle in the group stage at St James' Park when we drew 1-1, but it's a knockout situation now and the game will be totally different. Another scoring draw would be a good result for us at Middlesbrough. And we go there knowing it is going to be a physical, competitive cup tie because it always is against English opposition."

Main threat
Middlesbrough's first-ever season in European competition has been a success, a 2-0 group stage defeat at Spanish high-fliers Villarreal CF being the only blip on their UEFA Cup adventure so far. And Rochemback has no doubts as to the identity of Boro's danger man.

'Watch Hasselbaink'
"There is one player that stands out in Middlesbrough's team and that is Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink," he said. "I respect all Boro's players but Hasselbaink is simply fantastic. He needs to be under 90-minute surveillance because he can decide the result of a game with just one touch. We need to watch him.

Final wish
"As for our overall chances in the UEFA Cup, I'm dreaming that Sporting will make the final," continued Rochemback. "There are no real favourites in the competition. A lot of the teams are evenly matched and I think the club that has fewest injuries and the most stamina will prevail in the Estádio José Alvalade in May."