Courtesy: UEFA

'Angry' Andreu wants title back

Thursday, 26 January 2006

by Andy Hall

from Madrid

Regular watchers of the UEFA Futsal Cup could not have helped noticing something different about last season's final. For the first time in its four editions, the tournament had a non-Spanish winner.

Heartbreak
Boomerang Interviú were defending champions 12 months ago when a last-gasp Action 21 Charleroi equaliser took the Belgian second qualifying round group hosts into the final on goal difference - ending the unbeaten Spanish side's grip on the trophy. Now Boomerang are back at that stage, and from Sunday continue their bid to regain the cup with fixtures against another Belgian team, Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz, Kazakhstan's Kairat Almat and the side Boomerang defeated to triumph in 2004, SL Benfica.

'Still angry'
Andreu, part of the Boomerang squad that overcame Benfica 7-5 on aggregate to be crowned European champions, is still driven by last year's disappointment. He told uefa.com: "We are angry about losing in Charleroi. It doesn't seem fair, not to lose a single game and then find yourself eliminated, and we are determined to make up for that. The experience of drawing that last match with 20 seconds to go is something that is lodged in our minds. It's a recent wound and that is why we want to change things and try to become European champions again. It's the most important challenge facing us this year."

Confident
However, he is confident that this time around his team can progress, their task aided as two clubs from each group will now advance to a new semi-final round. "I don't think we should have too many problems getting through," he said. "The only worrying aspect will be deciding who will finish first and second in the group, as obviously that is going to be more complicated.

Benfica rivalry
"Within the group, Benfica and Boomerang are probably the teams with the best chance of coming first. We know each other very well, and our last meetings have gone in our favour. In our last UEFA final we beat them, and then in [November's] Taça Ibérica we drew in Portugal and beat them at home. It's going to be difficult but we are focusing on finishing top of the group."

'Rowdy fans'
That rematch of the 2004 decider will be on Wednesday, with Boomerang keen to avoid a repeat of the 4-3 defeat they suffered two years ago at a vociferous Pavilhão da Luz, although a 4-1 first-leg home win secured an aggregate advantage and the trophy. "Benfica are a different side to the one we played in 2004 - even in the last Taça Ibérica, we noticed they had made changes," Andreu said. "They have made some good signings, although maybe the fact some of their newer players could still be settling in, is something that might go against them. They are favourites when playing at home as they have rowdy fans, which will put additional pressure on us."

Stability
Unlike their rivals, Boomerang have made few changes. "The basic core of the side has remained the same for the past four years, which has given us great stability," Andreu said. "I think our squad also has more depth - to be honest, I think we are a better team but saying that means we have to go out and prove it."



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