Sparta boss steeled for old school tie

Jozef Chovanec is "enjoying meeting old friends" as he takes his AC Sparta Praha players to PSV Eindhoven, but is eager to fulfil a personal goal by overcoming his old club.

Excellent school
The 49-year-old spent the most high-profile spell of his career in Eindhoven between 1989 and 1991, and said: "I only have pleasant memories of that period; we won the Dutch league and cup and I played alongside great team-mates. But more than anything I am grateful to PSV for letting me learn real professional soccer. No school can teach the things you pick up playing for such a top side."

'My teacher'
Guus Hiddink was Chovanec's first boss at PSV and a major influence on his subsequent career. The two met again on 15 August 2001, as Hiddink's Korea Republic side lost 5-0 to Chovanec's Czech Republic in a friendly in Drnovice, the latter saying: "I defeated my teacher Guus Hiddink when I coached the Czech Republic against Korea Republic and now I also want to overcome PSV."

Improved side
PSV are a point ahead of Sparta at the top of Group K, and while Chovanec has enjoyed "meeting old friends like [PSV scout] Berry van Aerle", Sparta are still smarting from conceding a late equaliser as the sides drew 2-2 in Prague on Matchday 1. "They are much better than at the start of the season," he said. "The lineup is settled and their attack is very strong. A point might be a success for us."

'Figures don't lie'
Sparta's task has been made harder by an injury to central defender Roman Hubník, who scored their first goal on Matchday 1, but PSV coach Fred Rutten still expects a solid rearguard display from the visitors. "The statistics don't lie; they have only conceded seven in [16 games in the] league. What I have seen of them confirmed what we thought." A win for either side would guarantee qualification, but midfielder Orlando Engelaar added: "I don't expect an open game."