Courtesy: UEFA.com


Alonso's winning formula for Interviú

Tuesday 21 April 2009

by Guillermo G Honrubia from Madrid

No team has won three UEFA Futsal Cup titles but Spanish side Interviú Madrid aim to put that right this year. Victories in 2004 and 2006 drew them level with the mark set by compatriots Playas de Castellón FS in the previous two inaugural seasons, but they suffered a last-gasp loss in the 2007 decider against MFK Dinamo Moskva, the first since the switch to the format of a one-off four-team finals event. This year's showpiece begins on Friday in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, with Interviú facing Kairat Almaty for a place in Sunday's final. Juan Luis Alonso replaced long-time Interviú coach Jesús Candelas last summer and he spoke to uefa.com about their hopes.

uefa.com: Kairat Almaty are a rich club but Interviú beat them on the way to winning the 2005/06 title. How do you see the semi-final going?

Juan Luis Alonso: The first advantage that Kairat have is that they aren't under pressure. Their objective was to qualify for the finals and they've achieved that. From now on, and with the experience some of their players have, they are going to take to the tournament with confidence because they've nothing to lose. They have players with contrasting qualities and with experience of the Spanish league. These factors make them dangerous.

uefa.com: They also have a lot of Brazilian players. Do you think this makes them more dangerous or more predictable in terms of you knowing the Brazilian style of futsal?

Alonso: I think they are dangerous opponents above all because of their experience. The Kazakh players have less knowledge of futsal on an international level but they have various international players from Brazil and Italy and that makes them a tricky team.

uefa.com: Which player would you recommend us keeping an eye on in the UEFA Futsal Cup finals?

Alonso: I really like a Russian player from [MFK] Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg called Dmitri Prudnikov. He's 21 and is already a Russian international. He has the potential to be a big star in the future.

uefa.com: You've worked at Interviú with Jesús Candelas in the past but how has it been moving from smaller clubs to lead a side aiming for the European title?

Alonso: Firstly, there is a great sense of responsibility. I feel I am prepared for it as working alongside Candelas in my last spell with the club allowed me to understand the weight and significance of the role.

uefa.com: What would it mean to you for this club to become the first three-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners?

Alonso: I hold out an enormous hope especially taking into account that it's a title we haven't won for a few years now. Furthermore, it's been a couple of seasons since we lost the final against Dinamo Moskva in the last minute and now we have the chance to gain revenge for that.

uefa.com: Will the absence of Marquinho your performance?

Alonso: We have a big squad but obviously I'd have preferred if he were there. Marquinho has certain characteristics that few other players in the world have and logically his absence takes something from our potential. We lose variety in our play because of the particular things Marquinho brings. But despite that, the squad is competitive enough.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Barbosa plotting Interviú's downfall

Tuesday 21 April 2009

by Mikhail Kozachkov from Almaty

In an exclusive interview with uefa.com, Kairat Almaty coach João Carlos Barbosa speaks about the Kazakhstan double winners' forthcoming UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final against "the best club in the world", Interviú Madrid. Barbosa, however, would not be drawn on who are the favourites to lift the trophy on 26 April, merely saying that "persistency, fighting spirit and concentration are the key elements for success".

uefa.com: You won the league title a month before the match against Interviú Madrid. Is there a danger that you have had too much time to prepare for the game?

João Carlos Barbosa: We tried to have everything won as soon as possible in order to concentrate on preparing for our UEFA Futsal Cup matches. If we had to compete until the very end of the league then we would run the risk of our players getting injured. Anyone could pick up an injury and miss the UEFA Futsal Cup.


uefa.com: Kairat have a disappointing record against Russian and Spanish clubs. Why do you think this is?

Barbosa: The Russian and Spanish leagues are stronger than ours. Clubs from these countries play about 30 competitive games a season. Besides Russian and Spanish clubs count not only on Brazilian players but also on homegrown talent.


uefa.com: Have you worked out how to beat Interviú?

Barbosa: We know what we are capable of. We are playing the best club in the world. We can play in a manner that makes life difficult for Interviú. What should we do? Be persistent, show fighting spirit and be concentrated; these should be key elements of our game. It is very important to be smart. We can be competitive even against the best club in the world if we play intelligent football.


uefa.com: Who do you think are the favorites to win the UEFA Futsal Cup?

Barbosa: It is hard to answer this question. As I said before, persistency, fighting spirit and concentration are the key elements for success. The team which shows these three qualities better than the others will win the trophy.


uefa.com: Kairat will play in the semi-finals for the third time. What did the team lack on the previous two occasions to win the trophy?

Barbosa: I don't want to comment on those games as I did not see the matches because I was not in Kazakhstan. Now everyone should understand the importance of the occasion and think about it very hard.

uefa.com: Does your future at the club depend on results in Europe?

Barbosa: I always try to achieve the highest goals but I understand that the Kairat board will analyse our performance in the UEFA Futsal Cup.


uefa.com: Does that mean that the players will fight for you as well?

Barbosa: First of all the players must fight for themselves. Winning the tournament could be the best achievement of their careers. I believe that the players understand the importance of the competition.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com