Ajax Amsterdam : Tough Draw For Werder In UEFA-Cup

First Team
Friday, 15.12.2006 / 21:08

Werder Bremen will face Ajax Amsterdam in the last 32 knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup. Should Werder progress they would face a last sixteen tie against either Spartak Moscow or Spain's Celta Vigo.

Werder Bremen will face Ajax Amsterdam in the last 32 knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup. Should Werder progress they would face a last sixteen tie against either Spartak Moscow or Spain's Celta Vigo. That was the result of Friday's draw. The first leg will be played in Bremen on either the 14th or 15th of February with the return game in Amsterdam on February 22nd.

 

The vital dates at a glance

 

14./15.02.2007 First K.O.-Round, First leg at the Weser-Stadion

 

22.02.2007 First K.O.-Round, return leg

 

08.03.2007 Last sixteen, first leg

 

14./15.03.2007 Last sixteen, return leg

 

Reactions to the draw:

 

Werder Bremen coach, Thomas Schaaf:

 

"There is not a lot that needs to be said about Ajax Amsterdam. They have won their championship so many times. It's certainly an attractive draw. There is always something special about a German-Dutch clash. There will be an attractive framework for the match in Bremen and in Amsterdam. Ajax are a club which has always been packed with internationals.

 

Players like Heitinga, Huntelaar, Jap Stam, Rosenberg, Perez and many others speak volumes for the quality in the side. Even the coach Henk ten Cate is well known. Last year he was Frank Rijkaards assistant as we played FC Barcelona.

 

With Ajax we remain in the category that we had been playing in the Champions League - in recent years Ajax were always a particpant in the Champions League. Our fans know what to expect when they hear that name. There will be noone doubting the quality of the UEFA Cup now."

 

Werder team manager, Klaus Allofs (live in Nyon)

 

"We atre satisfied with this opponent. That doesn't mean we'll be taking them lightly. Ajax have always shown their abilities on the international scene and definately find themselves on a Champions League niveau. You've got to consider the development that we have made in recent years. We have won a lot in confidence and believe we can make the next round. Ajax is a tough nut but we have shown that we can deal with such tasks.

 

All three German teams have tough challenges but they can all be fulfilled. It's definately possible that all three teams can notch up points for Germany in the next round."

 

Chairman of the board, Jürgen L. Born (Live in Nyon)

 

"It's a draw that can save travelling costs, Amsterdam is not so far away. We must have plenty of respect for them though, alone for their history and amazing international success'. We can certainly live with the draw, there were no poor teams in the pot. 90% of the teams in the draw are at a Champions League standard."

 

Werder Bremen manager, Klaus-Dieter Fischer

 

"That will be an exciting event - it's a challenge on a Champions League level. I think it's the right time for us to knock out a Dutch club. We have never had much luck against teams from Holland. In the past we've fallen to PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Vitesse Arnheim."

 

Werder management, Manfred Müller

 

"With Ajax we face a side with which we have had good experiences in recent times. We worked with them as Petri Pasanen and Frank Verlaat came to Bremen as well as when Angelo Charisteas moved to Amsterdam. On a sporting level this clash is on the highest level."

 

Patrick Owomoyela

 

"Ajax are a top club but we'll have to get past a number of them if we want to do well in the tournament. We have no problem with this tough task. For me personally a game at the Amsterdam-Arena is an extra motivation for me to get back into the team after a long injury."

 

Frank Baumann, Werder captain

 

"Ajax is an amazing club which has always developed great players. In recent years they haven't been as successful as they were in the ninties but they are a strong team and it's an attractive draw. With Jaap Stam they have a very experienced man at the back and a great deal of potential around him. It won't be easy for us but we will have to win at home to set the groundwork for progressing. It's not a problem for us having the first tie at the Weser Stadium. The next round is uninteresting now, we've got to get past Ajax."

 

Daniel Jensen

 

"Ajax are not as big now as they were in the past but they do have young, talented players within their ranks. They will surely be two tough but good games for us. We should orientate ourselves on FC Copenhagen who knocked them out in the Champions League qualifier. We can do it too."

 

Christian Schulz

 

"That's an attractive draw. They play good football, the Ajax talent school is well known. As we played in the Champions League we have the roll of favourite here but Ajax is a challenging opponent. They made themselves a name in the last ten or fifteen years and are a top address in European football."

 

Clemens Fritz

 

"All opponents would have been tough but that's a great draw. I would imagine we are favourites."

 

Torsten Frings

 

"Ajax are a super side and have a great name. You could see the way we played in the Champions League, we have no need to fear Ajax."

 

Petri Pasanen, (ex-Ajax player)

 

"Ajax are very strong at home so we will have to get a good result at home. I'm looking forward to the game. Ajax are a footballing side and that's good for us. Five or six players from my time there are still at the club but I don't have any real contact to Amsterdam anymore."

 

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