AZ have no inferiority complex

AZ Alkmaar coach Louis van Gaal rates Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final opponents Werder Bremen as a "top side" but insists his team should not feel inferior. He has good cause for optimism as AZ have never lost a home game in Europe and Bremen are yet to win on Dutch soil.

Tantalising confrontation
When the draw for the last eight threw up this tantalising Dutch-German meeting, Van Gaal was inaccurately reported as being unhappy. "I didn't claim we were underdogs. All I said was that Werder were probably the most difficult opponents left in the competition," said the trainer. "Barcelona were lucky to eliminate them from the [UEFA] Champions League. I don't have a special plan. As usual we will apply our own system while adapting it slightly to reflect the quality of the opposition."

Fitness boost
AZ have 18 fit players to choose from, a situation the coach described as being "novel" in a season where they have struggled with injuries. Midfielders Simon Cziommer (calf) and Rogier Molhoek (thigh) are available for selection again, as is first-choice goalkeeper Khalid Sinouh. However, it seems almost certain that last year's Eredivisie runners-up will kick off with the same starting eleven that recorded a 2-0 home win over RKC Waalwijk on Saturday.

Home record
No mention of an AZ European home match is complete without reference to the club's magnificent record in Alkmaar. The team have never lost in continental competition at home, a 29-game run stretching all the way back to 1977. Nonetheless, Van Gaal plays down the significance. "It's history and has no bearing on the next game," he said. "We just want to get a good result."

'Interesting tie'
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf knows the record books are not in his side's favour yet he is looking forward to the two legs. "I know Van Gaal likes his teams to attack and so do we," said Schaaf. "It should be a very interesting tie and I feel our confidence is returning. I thought we played very well at FC Energie Cottbus at the weekend." The 0-0 draw took his charges to within two points of Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04.

Injury worries
Schaaf does have injury concerns, with in-form midfielder Daniel Jensen missing due to groin trouble, and Peter Niemeyer (ankle) and Christian Schulz (thigh) unavailable. Captain Frank Baumann has recovered from an achilles operation and fellow midfielder Tim Borowski is also back in contention. However, it is unlikely that either will claim a starting berth as they have only recently returned to training.

Probable teams
AZ: Boy Waterman; Grétar Steinsson, Kew Jaliens, Ryan Donk, Tim de Cler; Julian Jenner, Demy de Zeeuw, Moussa Dembélé, Maarten Martens; Shota Arveladze, Danny Koevermans.

Bremen: Tim Wiese; Clemens Fritz, Per Mertesacker, Naldo, Pierre Wome; Patrick Owomoyela, Torsten Frings, Diego, Jurica Vranješ; Aaron Hunt, Miroslav Klose.