McLeish: My players
are up for the battle
Early goal would be a bonus but
patience must be shown by all - STUART CROWTHER
ALEX MCLEISH WAS RELAXED THIS AFTERNOON as he spoke to the media
for the final time before his side take on AEK Athens before a sell-out
Easter Road crowd tomorrow evening. The Hibs boss oozed confidence
that might surprise many in the Greek camp who appear to believe that
their 2-goal lead will be more than enough to see off Hibernian, and while
the bookmakers might well agree, Hibs fans at least remain up-beat, and
that is a feeling matched by the coaching and playing staff at the club!
As reported by Hibs.net Franck Sauzee is fit
for the clash, having counted himself out of the away leg in Athens last
Thursday. "Franck Sauzee's experience will be
invaluable," McLeish said today, adding: "It
was fantastic to see how sharp he was in training today and yesterday, and
how confident he is. He is a
little surprised that he was feeling so good, he still thought that he
would be doubtful for the game. Franck
was disappointed at missing out last week, but he was also very realistic
and philosophical about the whole thing.
It was not worth risking reputations, either the teams or his own,
to play in Europe and Franck knew it was the right decision and was
comfortable with that. He
wanted to play and of course was disappointed but he was very happy with
the decision he had to make."
Craig Brewster - set to return and lead the line against AEK (sns)
The
influence of Sauzee is bound to give everyone a lift, if indeed any
further lift was needed for a Hibs squad who have been on song in recent
weeks with goals coming from just about every direction bar goalkeeper
Nick Colgan! One player who has not yet found the target however is
Ecuador international Ulises de la Cruz, but that is not a problem either
for the player or his manager, who said: "De La
Cruz has had a hand in three goals and Sunday and made a couple a week
earlier. He was capable of
better than he showed in Athens last week, we have spoken to him about a
change in his outlook for the return game against AEK, asking him to be
more positive and direct, and when he is I don't think there are many
players who could live with his pace."
Much
is being made this week of the importance of an early goal, and the Hibs
boss is obviously aware of the pressure this would place on AEK and the
lift it would give to fans, but he warned: "We
will try and get an early goal, but if that does not happen we have to be
patient. So long as we can get the goals in the time required, that
will be do us nicely."
While much of the talk by Hibs fans this week has been based on great
come-backs in Europe by the Easter Road club, McLeish pointed up a game he
had with Aberdeen when they returned from the away leg two goals down -
only to draw level at Pittodrie before snatching the winner in
extra-time. That underlined the importance of not conceding anything
at the back, a task that McLeish does not think will be made any easier by
reported injury worries in the AEK camp.
De La Cruz - chat with the boss! (sns)
The
Hibs boss said: "The team that played against us has
been weakened with some injuries, but I would think that AEK Athens would
have reasonably strong back-up. But my players are really up for
this game, and I sincerely believe that we have a chance."
McLeish would give nothing away on his starting line-up other than to
admit he already knew what that would be, Hibs.net though will go
for the following line up - and a 4-1 Hibs win!: Colgan; Orman,
Fenwick, Sauzee, Murray, Laursen; De La Cruz, O'Neil, Jack, Luna and
Brewster.
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