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UEFA Champions League: Artmedia abuzz for UEFA Champions League debut [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Bratislava (Reuters) - UEFA Champions League newcomers Artmedia Bratislava are determined not to be overawed when they host Inter Milan in their competition debut.
The Slovak side, who defied the odds by reaching the group phase from the first qualifying round, operate on an annual budget of less two million euros.
"Compared with our opponents, we are a small club, but we have a long history and big hearts," Artmedia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "We believe that anything is possible in football."
"We are proud to take part in the Champions League for the first time in our history. It is a great opportunity for us, and a great challenge for the players," Weiss said.
Founded in 1899 as a small sports club in the then outskirts of the capital Bratislava, Artmedia took its current name from the main sponsor, advertisement agency EURO RSCG Artmedia, in 1993.
The Slovak champions have made a slow start to their domestic season, but a 3-0 victory over AS Trencin in their last game has lifted spirits.
"The mood is great, we are full of expectations and we want to be a respectable partner for Inter," said Weiss. "We don't need to speak about Inter being favourites."
Artmedia, who will also face Porto and Rangers in Group H, have boosted their squad with the signings of Czech striker Lukas Hartig from Zenit St Petersburg and defender Leos Urbane from Spartak Moscow.
Artmedia have sold almost all of the 29,000 tickets available for the Inter game, which will be staged at Slovan Bratislava's stadium as their own 7,000 capacity ground does not comply with UEFA regulations.
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