Poulsen fears repeat performance
Friday, April 27, 2007
Article summary
Christian Poulsen is eager not to be a semi-final loser two seasons in a row after his Sevilla FC side lost 1-0 in a "very physical" first leg away to CA Osasuna.
Article body
These are going to be six very nervous and testing days for Christian Poulsen. The commanding Sevilla FC midfielder knows precisely what the feeling of losing a UEFA Cup semi final is like and he patently wants to avoid it.
Personal incentive
A year ago Poulsen and his FC Schalke 04 team mates were knocked out of the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate by the Spanish club the 27-year-old now plays for. Looking down the barrel of a single goal deficit, thanks to Roberto Soldado´s 55th minute header for CA Osasuna in the first leg, Poulsen is determined to make it to a major European final this time. "Everyone in Seville is naturally talking about the incentive of defending the trophy and returning to the final but I simply don't want to lose a UEFA Cup semi-final two years in succession," confirmed the Dane. "It's a big motivation, believe me."
'Very physical'
He added: "I think the key [in the second leg] will be imposing our style of football at our own stadium. We came to Pamplona totally aware of the challenge which faced us. They are a physical team that plays a different brand of football to ours and their fans truly get behind them and urge them to give everything. We absolutely understood it was going to be a test and looking back at the game I have to say it was very physical."
Osasuna onslaught
Although the playing surface was far from below par, the heavy pitch and the early rain added to the Osasuna onslaught and left the holders gasping for respite, unable to establish their normally exquisite technical style of play. Daniel Alves was often pinned back, Jesùs Navas rarely found meaningful possession and if Sevilla marked tightly in midfield then Osasuna simply sent the ball long.
Clean sheet
Poulsen is concerned that keeping a clean sheet may prove to be as significant for the home side as Soldado marking his first ever UEFA Cup goal. "I think our main disappointment is that we didn't score an away goal," said the Sevilla midfielder. "Normally it is tactically important to take at least an away goal from the first leg. Of course we remain confident because the game is still open, the second leg will be very demanding for them and our fans will reverse the atmosphere we endured tonight. I´m still holding on to the dream of going to the final in Glasgow."
