Self-control the final key
ByReuters
Published 26/05/2004 at 16:09 GMT
Discipline will be the key for Monaco and Porto in the Champions League final at the Arena AufSchalke in a match which looks too close to call. Both sides advanced to the final by beating more prestigious teams and their respective coaches are keen to see
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"Self-control is very important in a match like this," said Monaco coach Didier Deschamps.
"My players know, and I'll be repeating it to them, that they should not do anything that would bring a sanction from the referee."
Both Deschamps and Porto coach Jose Mourinho were given a reminder about the potential cost of one rash challenge in last week's UEFA Cup final.
That match was all but decided when Olympique Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez gave away a penalty and was sent off for a lunge at Mista just before half-time.
"My players are tired of hearing this but you don't win major matches without controlling your emotions," said Mourinho.
"If you can't keep cool it will be difficult to win. This is the most important match in club football and you have to play with tranquillity."
Porto won the European Cup for the only time in their history in 1987 and claimed a second major European honour by winning last season's UEFA Cup.
They are aiming to become the first side to win the UEFA Cup and European Cup in successive seasons since Liverpool in 1976 and 1977.
Deschamps won the Champions League as a player with Marseille in 1993 and Juventus in 1996 and, at 35, will become the youngest coach to lift the trophy if Monaco triumph on Wednesday.
Deschamps should be able to field Fernando Morientes in attack after the Spaniard, three times a Champions League winner with Real Madrid, trained normally on the eve of the game, 10 days after spraining his right ankle.
Probable teams:
Porto - 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Jorge Costa, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 8-Nuno Valente, 6-Francisco Costinha, 18-Maniche Ribeiro, 23-Pedro Mendes, 10-Deco Souza, 11-Derlei Silva, 77-Benni McCarthy.
Monaco - 30-Flavio Roma; 4-Hugo Ibarra, 27-Julien Rodriguez, 19-Sebastien Squillaci, 3-Patrice Evra, 32-Gael Givet, 7-Lucas Bernardi, 14-Edouard Cisse, 8-Ludovic Giuly; 10-Fernando Morientes, 25-Jerome Rothen.
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark).
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