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UEFA Champions League: Udinese start beyond Cosmi's dreams [Thu Sep 15th, 2005]
Udine, Italy (Reuters) - Udinese coach Serse Cosmi said his team's 3-0 win over Panathinaikos had exceeded all his expectations for their UEFA Champions League debut.
"That was the match we dreamt about. It was a big enough dream to make our debut in this competition and given that there are no limits to dreams we had hoped for a start like this," he said after Vincenzo Iaquinta's hat-trick had seen off the Greek side.
"There are a lot of factors involved in a game like that -- we have never played on the Champions League stage and so of course there was excitement and nerves too," he said.
Cosmi opted for a more defensive line-up than in previous games where he has used three strikers but felt his approach had paid off.
"We were solid in defence, that is true, but you need that -- when you build a house you certainly don't start with the roof," he said.
"But there were times in the game, especially after the second goal, when we played some spectacular football," said Cosmi, who was full of praise for Iaquinta.
"In the last three years he has improved incredibly. I think he still has some improvements to make though," he said.
Iaquinta, who scored with his left and right feet and with his head, conceded he had missed as many chances as he scored.
"I could have scored quite a few tonight but three was enough I think," he joked.
"The fact that I scored in different ways shows that I am becoming a complete player. To score a hat-trick in a Champions League debut is immensely satisfying," he said.
Panathinaikos's Italian coach Alberto Malesani said his team were still in a phase of restructuring after a busy close season in the transfer market but added that the result was not a fair reflection of the game.
"It was much more balanced, especially in the first half than 3-0 would suggest," he said.
"The main differences were the strikers," he said lamenting the absence of two of his first choice forwards.
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