CFR Cluj v Basle - Cartu has tough act to follow

Posted Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by PA

New Cluj boss Sorin Cartu knows he has a tough act to follow as he prepares to take charge of his first match in the Champions League Group E opener against Basle.

The former Romania Under-21 coach was appointed on Monday following the surprise sacking of Andrea Mandorlini, who led the club to the league and cup double last season.

Cartu said: "For me it is a pretty difficult position to come after a coach who has won everything you can. Any other result from our side can be considered a failure."

Cluj and Basle will both be desperate to get off to a winning start, with Roma and Bayern Munich the favourites to progress to the knockout stages.

The Romanians have had a disappointing start in the league but Cartu expects his players to cope with the sudden change of leadership.

He said: "The players are professionals, they are paid by the club and must adapt to the situation.

"We will try to accumulate as many points as possible in the Champions League. It is a tough group with outstanding opponents. I will try to line up a team to help us to obtain the best results."

Cartu, though, will be unable to call on Cristian Bud, Nuno Diogo and Sixto Peralta, who were all left off the squad list for the Champions League by his predecessor.

"I was amazed that Bud, Diogo Nuno and Peralta are not on the list," he added. "I wanted to select Bud against Basle."

Mandorlini, meanwhile, hit out at owner Arpad Paszkany and chairman Iuliu Muresan for their decision.

He told www.prosport.ro: "I think that, after all I did for Cluj, I deserve more respect. Paszkany and Muresan could have let me manage in the Champions League. It could be their gift to me as a reward for the results we obtained last season."

Basle will be hoping to take advantage of the upheaval at Cluj, with defender Samuel Inkoom confident they can collect three points.

He said: "It will not be easy but I think we can win. I knew that they have changed their coach, and certainly the new coach will try to change things in the team."

And Inkoom certainly does not believe the teams are playing for third place, adding: "We are the favourite in this group, then Bayern."

Jacques Zoua, Valentin Stocker and Genseric Kusunga are all likely to miss out through injury.

end