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Alaves playing for Basque pride
DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -- Alaves will play for Basque pride as well as team glory when they take on Liverpool in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday. Alaves are the first club from Spain's Basque region to contest a major European final since Athletic Bilbao lost to Juventus on away goals in the UEFA Cup in 1977. "When you consider the match on Wednesday you have to bear in mind that Alaves are a Basque club," said Dutch midfielder Jordi Cruyff. "The Basque people have a different way of expressing themselves. They always use sport to show what kind of people they are." In that respect Alaves live up pretty well to the Basque soccer reputation, playing with the same blend of good organization and relentless fighting spirit that neighbors Athletic Bilbao are renowned for. That character is epitomized by club captain and defensive stalwart Antonio Karmona who was born in the Vizcaya province, fought his way up the divisions and is an uncompromising figure at center-back. "We're the first Basque team since Bilbao to reach a final like this and to be in the final is great for the region," he said. "It would be a tremendous achievement for the Basque region for us to win." The Basque people have a reputation for gambling and coach Jose Manuel Esnal, known as Mane, believes his side can upset the favorites on Wednesday. "The betting shops will show pretty clearly the difference between the two sides in terms of reputations going into the game," said the coach. "But we're betting people in the Basque country and we believe we can go out there and upset the odds. "I would have had a bet myself but I was only offered even money and a month ago we were 40-1." More seriously, he spoke of the possible implications of victory for the team from the quiet city of Vitoria. It is a place where football has rarely roused the sort of passions it does in Bilbao, San Sebastian -- where Real Sociedad are based -- or further afield in Madrid and Barcelona. "The final is important for our bid to build something for the future," said Mane, who recently signed a new one-year contract after rejecting the chance of a move to Valencia. "Winning will be important for the players but also for the whole atmosphere of the club and the city. "The game is our absolute priority for the season. We know that if we fail we face a tough fight to get back in the competition."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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