Courtesy: UEFA.com


Carmona cool as Barcelona glory bid begins

Thursday 22 September 2011

FC Barcelona begin their first bid for the UEFA Futsal Cup as they aim to be the only club to rule Europe in both codes – but coach Marc Carmona says the Liga remains their priority.

by Paul Bryan

Not content with their dominance of European football, FC Barcelona begin their first bid for the continental futsal title next week.

Barcelona ended nine years of supremacy by Interviú Madrid and ElPozo Murcia by claiming their first Spanish championship last season, earning a UEFA Futsal Cup debut. That will come next Thursday when they face KMF Leotar Trebinje before games with Győri ETO FC and hosts FK Nikars Riga in main round Group 2 in Latvia.

Their start to the new campaign has been mixed, with the Catalans losing the Spanish Super Cup final to three-time European champions Interviú and needing a last-second winner to defeat Torrejón FS in their league opener. More comfortable victories have followed against Lugo AD – the 9-0 scoreline being Barcelona's second best in the Liga – and Manacor FS.

"We're working well in defence again, recovering possession and giving away very few chances," coach Marc Carmona said. "We began the season with some untidy performances but we're getting back that feeling we had last season."

Barça's profile in the futsal world has risen over recent campaigns thanks to the presence of former Spanish captain Javi Rodríguez and current international Jordi Torras along with Brazilian pivots Fernandao and Wilde. Add also, to the side that managed the Liga and Copa del Rey double last term, Gabriel from Interviú and Sergio Lozano who returns to the setup following a successful loan spell with Segovia FS.

Although retaining the domestic crown is Carmona's priority, he is in no doubt about the allure of European glory, with Barcelona favourites to win through to November's elite round. That would leave them three matches away from the finals, where unusually no Spanish team were present last season.

"I realise that in certain quarters the UEFA Futsal Cup is being talked about but I still insist the Liga is our primary objective this term," Carmona explained.

"I told the players before we got started earlier this month that this will be the first season we are coming from the other side. By that I mean that beforehand we were always the hopefuls trying to win something. Now we find ourselves in a position where we have won everything [domestically] and our goal is to repeat those successes.

"I had always dreamed of a winning Barça, with our home venue packed out and our supporters cheering us on. I consider myself very fortunate to have experienced such moments."





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Dinamo again a futsal force

Friday 23 September 2011

Much has changed at 2007 UEFA Futsal Cup winners MFK Dinamo Moskva in their two-year European absence but under new coach Faustino Pérez the club are again a major force.

by Dmitri Rogovitski from Moscow

MFK Dinamo Moskva are back into European action after a two-year exile and are determined to reclaim the UEFA Futsal Cup as they start their main round campaign next Thursday.

Dinamo won the trophy four years ago having lost the two previous finals but since 2009 have been absent from Europe, with MFK Sinara Ekaterinburg dominating in Russia. In March 2010, Dinamo also suffered the death of club president and former Russia great Konstantin Eremenko from a heart attack, the futsal world mourning one of its legendary figures.

Andrei Gubernski took over the presidency and Faustino Pérez replaced coach Yuri Rudnev, at the helm for most of the glory years. Pérez had won the first two UEFA Futsal Cups at Playas de Castellón FS in 2002 and 2003, and wasted no time in claiming the Russian double in his first Dinamo season, aided by the return to form of Cirilo as striker and now playmaker, while Fernandinho was voted forward of the year and Tatù best defender.

"The team united at once around the coach," Gubernski said. "The lads listened to him like first-grade pupils listen to their teacher. You could see this man was a professional who set the highest goals and wanted to win everything he could. We bought only one player then, Romulo, but it was the others who began to perform at a different level."

With Dinamo once again in Europe, the board has set the target of winning the treble and brought in Brazil captain Vinicius from ElPozo Murcia FS to boost a squad which will be without Russia striker Vladislav Shayakhmetov all year after he ruptured an Achilles tendon in February. This makes Dinamo the team to beat in main round Group 1 against Club Futsal Eindhoven, Athina '90 Athens and Slovenian hosts KMN Svea Lesna Litija.

"Our next opponents are not top-class sides," acknowledged Dinamo captain Aleksandr Rakhimov. "However, none of them are going to surrender so it is going to be tough. We are eager to win this tournament and qualify for the next round."

Stronger opponents will be waiting for Dinamo later on, including Marca Futsal from Italy, regarded by Rakhimov as one of the competition favourites. "We played Marca in pre-season," the 32-year-old forward said. "They are a very decent team with a great squad, worthy of being in the finals. The Portuguese and Spanish clubs are also favourites along with Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan."

Dinamo can be surely added to that list. "Step by step, we are moving towards UEFA Futsal Cup victory; it is within our abilities," Gubernski believes. "We want so much to bring the trophy to Moscow for the fans to see it with their own eyes. That could provide a major boost for the development of futsal in Russia."




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