| News : Inter want to scale World Club Cup pinnacle, says Figo |
Inter want to scale World Club Cup pinnacle, says Figo
2010.10.28. 12:22
Football legend Luis Figo insists Internazionale’s dream is to be crowned the world’s best club team in the UAE. The icon spoke to Sport360° yesterday after the FIFA Club World Cup draw in Zurich which he attended as ambassador for the Italian giants.
Inter have dominated Serie A in recent years and, of course, won the UEFA Champions League last May to qualify for this tournament.
And after conquering Italy and then Europe, next on the San Siro giants’ agenda is the entire world.
UAE champions Al Wahda are only two games away from facing Inter. They must first play Papua New Guinea outfit Hekari United and the winner then takes on the Asian Champions, which will be either Seongnam Ilshwachung or Zobahan of Iran, who play the AFC Final on November 13 in Tokyo.
Facing one of football’s best names would be an incredible achievement for such an unheralded team.
But don’t think Inter, who, along with South American champions Internacional, enter at the semi-final stage, won’t be taking this seriously.
Figo said: “It’s our objective to win in the UAE because it’s one of the most prestigious competitions in the world in terms of clubs and there was a lot of hard work just to arrive at this stage. We have enormous hope that we can achieve it.
“We’re playing teams we don’t know, so it will not be easy. They will have different characteristics from European sides and, of course, there will be very new conditions in the UAE for some of the players.
“So we will have to adapt and try to be better than the other teams.
“For us, the most important thing is to prepare well for whoever we meet in the semi-final and make sure we are in the final itself.”
The departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, one of Figo’s former clubs, in the summer was always going to have an effect on Inter.
However, Rafael Benitez has taken over and mainly kept the same players, which, according to Figo, is more important than a new manager.
And this strong unit makes the 2001 World Player of the Year believe Abu Dhabi will belong to Inter on December 18.
Figo added: “We have a strong team and strong structure which allows you to continue going forward even if you change coaches.
“We want to now win the FIFA Club World Cup with this group.”
By Neil Cameron - http://www.sport360.com/
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