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Cole Salutes Fener's Brazilian Idols
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole says he'll be coming up against two of his idols in Istanbul on Wednesday night in Fenerbahce coach Zico and left-back Roberto Carlos
The England international has spoken of his admiration for the pair ahead of their Champions League quarter-final meeting, but says his respect for them makes him only more determined to beat them.
The Legend Of Zico
"I loved Zico as a player," said the 26-year-old Blues star. "He was a top, top player - one of the best. I love watching him play and have loads of videos of him.
"And now he抯 also proving himself to be a top manager too," continued Cole of the Brazilian, whose Fenerbahce side currently top the Turkish Super League.
揑 had his picture from when I met him a few years ago and made it the screen saver on my computer," Cole explained, revealing how big a fan of the Brazilian he is. "Of course you look at great players and try to emulate what they can do," added Cole when asked if he modelled any of his own game on Zico's.
揟he 1983 Brazil team he was in was fantastic. They were a great side and everybody expected them to win the World Cup but they didn抰. They were probably the most famous team never to win it, a great side."
Roberto Carlos Challenge
But while Cole sadly arrived on the scene a few years too late to have the chance to play against Zico, he'll find himself face-to-face with another Brazilian legend, Roberto Carlos, on the pitch at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
揑抦 really looking forward to testing myself against him," said the Chelsea midfielder, an unused sub for England in the 2-1 defeat to Brazil at World Cup in 2002.
"For me, Roberto Carlos has been the best left-back in the world for the last 10 years so it抯 a really big test for me - attacking and defending. I know I抣l have to defend because he loves to come forward. But that抯 what I want - to play against the best players. It will be great for me to see what I can do against him.擺/b]
Istanbul Atmosphere
Cole also revealed that he's looking forward to playing football in front of one of the most feared crowds in Europe. 揑t will be an intensive atmosphere but I think it抯 great," he commented of the Istanbul couldron. 揟hat抯 what you want to play in - these kind of atmospheres. They really get you up for the game."
Taking It Seriously
As for Chelsea's chances, Cole remains confident they can progress over two legs, but stressed that they needed a bit of fortune too if they're to go all the way in Europe this year. "If we抮e going to win the Champions League we will need the bit of luck that we haven抰 had in the last few years," he said.
"But first and foremost we need to play well. We need a better performance than we gave on Sunday against Middlesbrough - from everybody. If we do that we抣l get the right result. It would be wrong to under-estimate Fenerbahce and think we抣l get through easily to play Liverpool or Arsenal. We must not do that and we won抰, I can tell you that. |
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Post time 1-4-2008 11:35 PM
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