Monaco keep low key against Juventus in European CL quarters
Xinhua, March 21, 2015 Adjust font size:
Monaco club has kept in low key after being drawn against Serie A champions Juventus for the quarterfinals of the UEFA champions League in Nyon on Thursday.
The Ligue 1 runners-up's vice president Vadim Vasilyev told the European soccer's governing body that Monaco have nothing to lose against Juve.
"It's going to be difficult," said Vasilyev via uefa.com. " Juventus are tough opponents but we will take to the field with ambition. We deserve to be here."
The principality club beat English Premierships' Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium before a 2-0 defeat at home making them through to the last eight, while Juventus ousted Dortmund with an impressive 5-1 aggregate win.
"We know we are up against a team with great ambitions. You only have to look at what they did to Dortmund to see what they are capable of.
"But anything can happen. We are the youngest team here and for us it's a great experience," said Vasilyev.
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim tipped Juve as "favorites" and admitted it a tough job against the Italian giants.
"It will be a difficult match against a big team, the leaders in Serie A," he said. "Football may be unpredictable, but Juventus are favorites. But as always, we'll be playing to win."
Skipper Jeremy Toulalan echoed: "Every match is difficult, and this one is no different. Playing the second leg at home can be a good thing, but it's not always the case, as we saw against Arsenal."
"Juventus have a lot of players we know," he added. "They're an Italian side who defend well, and they're impressive going forward too."
Jardim's team will visit the Serie A leaders in Turin on April 14, before they come back home for the return leg eight days later. Endite