Daniel seeks blaze of glory

Wednesday's UEFA Cup final may be Daniel's last match for Sevilla FC and the Brazilian midfielder is determined to leave the Spanish club with fond memories.

Brazilian signing
Daniel is in his third full season at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after being signed from Brazilian side EC Bahia by Sevilla's visionary sporting director Ramón 'Monchi' Rodríguez. However, he may be on the move again this summer having attracted interest with his European displays. "I have had offers from other clubs but the only thing I ask is that, if I do leave Sevilla, people do not to accuse me of money-grabbing," the 23-year-old told uefa.com ahead of the Middlesbrough FC game in Eindhoven.

Professional high
"This will be the most important match of my professional career and I hope to win it," he added. "Like the rest of the team, I'm very motivated as this is Sevilla's first final in a European competition. Our expectations are high and we want to achieve something important."

Pressure games
Having won the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with Brazil, Daniel knows the pressure of playing for major honours. With Sevilla facing their first European final in this, their centenary season, he is aware that such opportunities are few and far between.

'We can't fail'
"The only thing I can say to the supporters is that Sevilla really want to win the UEFA Cup," said Daniel - who has featured in 12 of the Andalusians' 14 UEFA Cup ties this term. "We have the chance to win a trophy and we can't fail. Since we're so close, we have to do all we can to win it."

Cautious prediction
However, with the stakes being so high, Daniel is understandably cautious when it comes to assessing Sevilla's chances of victory. "I don't think we're favourites," he said. "In fact, I don't think there can be favourites in this type of match. Both teams have their chances."

Spirit counts
Both Sevilla and Middlesbrough have demonstrated tremendous spirit in their UEFA Cup campaigns, and Daniel believes the eventual victors may well be the side that shows the most guts rather than the one boasting the better skills. "The team that puts their heart into it will win," he said. "Quality play is not enough - a bit more than that has to be brought on to the pitch. Our team is very focused and eager to start the game. I predict a good and entertaining match - I just hope we finish it as champions."