APOEL boss Giorgos Donis has called on his players to show just how ambitious they are when they take on Danish champions Aalborg in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Wednesday night.
The Cypriot title holders are looking to reach the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition for a third time having previously gone beyond the qualifying rounds in 2009 and 2011 – the latter seeing Ivan Jovanovic’s side stun the footballing world by reaching the quarter-finals.
They have struggled to repeat that feat since then – despite reaching the group stages of the Europa League last summer with a huge piece of luck under former boss Paulo Sergio – but hope has been revatalised following the arrival of Greek boss Donis last season.
And now, the former AEK Athens and PAOK coach is calling on his players to rise to the challenge when the first leg gets underway tonight in the northern Danish town of Aalborg.
“These kinds of games are very important for the players to show their strengths and their ambitions,” he told reporters last night. “We know that this is a very important game but the same applied for our game in the previous round [of the Champions League qualifiers]. The tie is evenly balanced and qualification will be decided by the tiniest details.”
APOEL are appearing in the playoffs for the third team with the Nicosia club previously qualifying each time with the same pattern. A 1-0 defeat in the first leg away (against Copenhagen in 2009 and Wisla Krakow in 2011) followed by 3-1 victories in the second legs in Nicosia a week later.
“We need to be disciplined and to follow the game plane strictly in order to achieve a positive result,” continued Donis. “Aalborg are a good side and tomorrow [tonight] we expect a tough game for which we have prepared.”
One of the biggest concerns amongst the fans were the problems at the back but Donis yesterday moved to quash reports that Brazilian centre-back Carlao was injured claiming that his new summer signing was “100% fit”.
Donis will be without new star signing Rafik Djebbour but will have veteran Brazilian forward Gustavo Manduca back in the frame with the 34-year-old having missed the last two European game [against HJK Helsinki] through injury.
“I disagree with those who say that Aalborg are not a strong team,” said Manduca who famously scored against Wisla Krakow, Zenit, Porto, Lyon and Real Madrid during APOEL’s incredible run in the 2011-2012 season. “They are very solid and we will be fooled if we think that this tie will be easy. There are no favourites in these two games.”
Commenting about his fitness, he said: “I’m feeling good, the injury is behind me and I’ve been working hard. If the coach needs me, then I am ready to help the team. The Champions League is an amazing competition and every player wants to be part of it. This competition is a huge target for us.”
Elsewhere, AEL, Apollon Limassol and Omonia are all in Europa League action tomorrow night in the playoffs.
Ivaylo Petev’s AEL – who dropped into the Europa League after suffering a late defeat to Zenit in the Champions League third qualifying round – host Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca while Omonia are in Moscow preparing to negotiate their first leg against hosts Dinamo.
Apollon also face Moscow opposition although they will be in Nicosia for the first leg against Lokomotiv.
European action for Cyprus clubs tonight and tomorrow
