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UEFA Cup: Deschamps feeling the heat at Monaco [Thu Sep 15th, 2005]
London (Reuters) - Under-performing domestically and without the financial cushion of a UEFA Champions League place, Monaco begin their UEFA Cup campaign with coach Didier Deschamps feeling the strain at the principality club.
Monaco, beaten Champions League finalists in 2004, face Dutch side Willem II at their Stade Louis II in the first leg of the first round on Thursday, one of 40 ties.
"I'm not happy with the level of the team and the state of mind of the squad at the moment," Deschamps said on Monday. "The truth is that Monaco are a good Ligue 1 club today but they are not a great club for two reasons: limited financial means and poor results."
Monaco, who lost 2-1 at champions Olympique Lyon last weekend and are 12th in the 20-club table, missed out on the Champions league after defeat by Real Betis in the third qualifying round.
"After we reached the Champions League final (in 2004), my ambition was to keep the club at such a level," added Deschamps. But many players like (French international) Ludovic Giuly left.
"We have tried to hire other players like (Djibril) Cisse and (Milan) Baros but they were not interested in joining us."
Holders CSKA Moscow, who became the first Russian side to lift a European trophy when they defeated Sporting in May, begin their defence against FC Midtjylland of Denmark. Sporting take on Sweden's Halmstad.
Dutch league leaders AZ Alkmaar, knocked out by a last-gasp extra-time goal by Sporting in last season's semi-final, must overcome Russia's Krylya Sovietov Samara to reach the group stage.
AZ, boosted by the signing of Georgian striker Shota Arveladze from Rangers, have hit 17 goals and conceded just one in winning their opening four league games.
CLOSED DOORS
Feyenoord, the 2002 UEFA Cup winners, begin their campaign at home to Romania's Rapid Bucharest in a match that will be played behind closed doors at their De Kuip stadium.
The Rotterdam side, who have begun the season well under new coach Erwin Koeman and like AZ have maximum points, were penalised by UEFA for crowd trouble against Sporting in February.
Sporting's Rui Jorge was hit by an object thrown by the crowd and the Portuguese side's goalkeeper Ricardo was hit by a firework.
Sevilla, favourites with British bookmaker William Hill to win the competition, will be without Argentine striker Javier Saviola for their tie against Germany's Mainz.
Saviola, who joined on loan from Barcelona, has strained a ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for a month.
Fellow Primera Liga side Espanyol's preparations for their trip to the Czech Republic to face Teplice have been hit by a row between coach Miguel Angel Lotina and Spanish international midfielder Ivan de la Pena.
The 29-year-old de la Pena was dropped from the squad last weekend by Lotina for "not training in a professional manner". De la Pena hit back this week saying Lotina's comments were "lies".
The 40 teams who survive the first round will advance to a group stage comprising eight groups of five clubs before the competition reverts to a knockout phase next spring. The final is in Eindhoven on May 10.
News headlines from around the world.