Anorthosis Famagusta FC – FC Internazionale Milano match preview

GSP, Nicosia
Tuesday 4 November 2008 – 20.45CET
Group B – Matchday 4

Anorthosis Famagusta FC coach Temuri Ketsbaia admits his side “need the support of our fans more than ever” as they attempt to deny Group B leaders FC Internazionale Milano an early entry into the knockout rounds.
Surprise package
Ketsbaia’s Cypriot champions defied the odds merely by negotiating their way around SK Rapid Wien and Olympiacos CFP and into the group stage. Yet having arrived in these uncharted waters, the minnows have hardly looked out of their depth, following up a draw at Werder Bremen with a victory against Panathinaikos FC in Nicosia last month. That 3-1 scoreline means Anorthosis have won all their homes games in European competition this season, although they face their biggest test on Tuesday night against an Inter team who beat them 1-0 in Milan last time out.
Support
The hosts’ task is made more complicated after it was confirmed that key trio Sávio, Traianos Dellas and captain Nikos Nikolaou are all out through injury, leaving Ketsbaia to call for reinforcements both on and off the pitch. “We’re calling on everybody to come and support us,” said the 40-year-old Georgian. “We have shown time and time again that we are a good side capable of competing at this level. We need the support of our fans more than ever, though – we need them to help us overcome our injury problems. It won’t be easy against Inter but none of our games till now have been easy. Playing in front of a stadium full of our supporters, it can be done.”
Heavy defeat
Nikolaou sustained an ankle injury in the chastening 4-0 defeat by AC Omonia on 27 October, which was Anorthosis’s first Division A loss since April 2007 – ending a 38-match unbeaten run. That disappointment was increased by the sight of Dellas limping off late on after pulling a muscle, and if Friday’s 2-0 victory against APOP / Kinyras Peyias FC brought a return to winning ways, it came at a price as Sávio picked up a knock. “The injuries are a problem but the most serious problem is the fact we’re playing Inter,” said Ketsbaia, whose second-placed outfit lie three points behind the visitors. “You just have to accept that players get injured and hope those who come in do a good job.”
Mourinho warning
Ketsbaia’s Inter counterpart José Mourinho has absentees of his own, as Sulley Muntari and Cristian Chivu are sidelined, the latter after injuring his knee at Reggina Calcio on Saturday – where a rare Iván Córdoba strike in added time secured a 3-2 win. Adriano is also unavailable as he serves an internal club suspension after arriving late for training. Mourinho, though, is not taking the Nerazzurri’s Matchday 4 opponents lightly. “Maybe others have come here thinking they could not lose,” he said. “But Anorthosis are a well-organised team, strong at the back, they work very hard and risk absolutely nothing. We have not come here to lose, though. We’re going for the win. Serie A is a long road but in the Champions League you cannot afford mistakes. If we lost, we would have to beat Panathinaikos and that’s never easy.” Victory in Nicosia would eliminate that necessity.
Inter hold no fears for Frousos
Having ended a goal drought stretching back to the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round defeat of FC Pyunik in July, Anorthosis Famagusta FC striker Nikolaos Frousos is looking forward to “one of the best moments of my career” as FC Internazionale Milano visit Cyprus on Tuesday.
Vital contribution
The 34-year-old scored twice in the final four minutes of Friday’s Division A match against APOP / Kinyras Peyias FC to secure a 2-0 win and halt a rare three-game run without a victory for his club – the second of those matches having come at San Siro two weeks ago when the islanders lost to a solitary Adriano goal. Frousos’s strikes, his 47th and 48th in 92 appearances since joining from Ionikos FC in 2004, came on his first league start of the season, showing coach Temuri Ketsbaia he can still deliver when it counts.
Highlight
Previewing the Matchday 4 test against the Italian champions, Greek forward Frousos said: “We have got a very tough game ahead of us, that’s for sure. Inter are one of the best teams in Europe and we all know we will need to give our all against them. Although this game is very difficult, for me personally this is one of the best moments of my career and I will be ready to give everything I have to help my team. A win for us would set us up very nicely in the group.”
Second spot
Anorthosis have made an impressive start to their debut campaign among the European élite, registering four points from three outings to take a tentative hold on second place in Group B ahead of Werder Bremen and Panathinaikos FC, yet behind favourites Inter. Frousos has seen little action so far – just a minute in Italy – with Polish international ?ukasz Sosin and Iraq’s Hawar Taher keeping the striking berths to themselves. Nonetheless, he is ready to shine if required. “We are all professionals here so we have to think what is best for the team,” said Frousos, the winner of two league titles and a Cypriot Cup. “If called upon, then of course I will give my all.”