Lisbon boss eager for home delivery

EMBATTLED Sporting Lisbon coach Jose Peseiro has vowed to defy his critics and lead his side to UEFA Cup success on home soil tonight.

Sporting’s chances of landing the Portuguese SuperLiga evaporated at the weekend after a 1-0 defeat to city rivals Benfica and Peseiro came in for heavy criticism for what many observers perceived to be a negative approach to a game they needed to win.

Redemption may come with victory against CSKA Moscow at Sporting’s own Jose Alvalade stadium and the 45-year-old appealed for a more positive outlook.

“Many people mock me when I say we have a strong squad but I am extremely proud of my players and I believe we can win tonight,” he said.

Brazilian striker and top scorer Liedson is set to return to the Sporting line-up after missing the Benfica game through suspension but Peseiro denied that would alter his thinking.

It is the third year in succession that a Portuguese team has reached a European final - Jose Mourinho led Porto to the UEFA Cup in 2003, where they beat Celtic in the final, and Champions League success followed 12 months later with a 3-0 defeat of Monaco.

Portugal also reached the final of Euro 2004 - a tournament they hosted.

Peseiro admitted knowing the final would be held in their own stadium gave his side “great motivation” throughout the cup run and he insists having the majority of the crowd on-side tonight will be hugely beneficial.

Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow coach Valeriy Gazzaev does not believe conceding home advantage to Sporting Lisbon will have any bearing on the final. “We know they are playing at home but it is a final and it should not make any difference,” he said.

“The atmosphere will be of no concern. We are fully prepared for the game.

“The players know what kind of game they will play and they are in good condition. We have the same chance of winning as our opponents.”

Captain Sergei Ignashevich added: “We will be able to hear our fans throughout the game and we are looking forward to seeing them tomorrow.”

Gazzaev also banished the notion his team, struggling in the Russian Premier Liga, were simply here to enjoy themselves.

He said: “Now that we are in the final, we have achieved the objective we set ourselves when we returned for training on January 15 so there is no chance we are simply here for pleasure.”

CSKA’s last game, against Zenit St Petersburg in the Russian Cup semi-final first leg, ended in a 1-0 defeat but Gazzaev refused to dwell on the result and insisted his squad is now fully focused on European success.

He is aware though that Sporting will present a formidable challenge for his side.

“They are a very powerful team and have good players like Ricardo, Fabio Rochemback, Sa Pinto and Pedro Barbosa,” he added.

“It is a good mix of youth and experience but we have followed virtually all of their games and we have a wealth of knowledge about how they play.”

English referee Graham Poll will take charge of the game. It has been another difficult season for English officials, who continue to come under increasing scrutiny, but Poll believes his participation in the Portuguese capital is recognition for him and his colleagues.