Jimenez: We must be patient

Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by PA

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has stressed the importance of patience to his players as they look to start their Champions League group campaign with victory over Unirea Urziceni.

Sevilla, back in the Champions League after missing out last year, warmed up for the game with an impressive 4-1 mauling of Real Zaragoza in the Primera Division at the weekend and they will be confident of following that up with another win over Unirea, who are the lowest-ranked team in Group G.

However, little is known of the Romanian champions who are playing in the competition for the first time having won their maiden domestic title last season, and Jimenez does not want his side to expose themselves to any unexpected surprises.

"We have to have patience, if we go mad and try to attack all the time then we will be inviting counter-attacks," said Jimenez, who has used the example of CFR Cluj last season as a reason to be wary of Unirea.

Although Unirea's Romanian rivals Cluj ultimately finished bottom of their Champions League group they caused a few problems along the way, most notably beating Roma in Italy in their opening match before holding Chelsea 0-0 in their second game.

"Cluj were a real unknown quantity and they had Roma against the ropes," said Jimenez.

"They (Unirea) are the champions of the Romanian league and have an average age of 28, players with a lot of experience and a president with ambition. They are a team you must respect the same as the others."

Veteran Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop added: "It's clear that we are favourites because we were top seeds (in the group). (But) this is football and you cannot say that you are going to win easily."

After losing their opening domestic league match at Valencia, Sevilla bounced back with that impressive defeat of Zaragoza, with Luis Fabiano grabbing a brace and Abdoulay Konko and Diego Perotti also on the mark.

Unirea also suffered defeat in their first match of the new season, going down to Cluj having lost to the same opponents in the Romanian Super Cup as well following a penalty shoot-out.

However, Dan Petrescu's side quickly found their feet after that, picking up four wins and a draw from their subsequent five league matches, leaving them second in the standings and just a point behind leaders Brasov.

Unirea certainly seem to have started where they left off last season, but former Romania international and Sevilla midfielder Ilie Dumitrescu believes their lack of European experience could be a problem.

"It's not the same playing in the Romanian league as it is doing it against the two-times UEFA Cup winners," said Dumitrescu in La Razon.

"(However), they have nothing to lose and for the players this is the game of their lives. It's a unique opportunity as they have never played at this level."

He added of former international team-mate Petrescu: "He has created a disciplined squad, humble, ambitious and united, but without experience. He doesn't have any players of a high level, but they give everything on the pitch and play very tight."