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| Cesare excited by Ajax encounter |
Wednesday 18 February, 2009 |
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Fiorentina Coach Cesare Prandelli is ready to lock horns with Marco Van Basten's Ajax and forecasts “a fascinating contest.”
The two men last came up against each other when Van Basten's Milan beat Prandelli's Atalanta 3-1 on January 17, 1990.
And this time there's everything top play for as the Viola host Ajax in the UEFA Cup last 32 on Thursday evening.
“It will be a fascinating game,” Prandelli told journalists.
“Ajax are a prestigious side with experience of being protagonists on the international stage.
“They may have had some trouble this season, but they will get back to the top soon and this game has everything needed for a classic.
“It is always a special occasion when I meet Van Basten - he was a superstar as a player and has brought many ideas, especially offensively, as a Coach.
“He was coached by Arrigo Sacchi, who was one of the best in Italian football history and that will help his preparations.
“We are looking to go as far as possible in this competition but this is also Ajax's main objective and that will be an added problem for us.”
Defender Alessandro Gamberini was in an optimistic frame of mind sitting alongside his Coach.
“We took on some of the biggest teams in Europe in the Champions League,” he said.
“Now we have set our sights on the UEFA Cup and we have a great chance of moving on.
“Ajax's strength is their organised style of play and they will be tough to beat for us defenders.”
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