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'Ballack's best' Beckenbauer rates Bayern playmaker ahead of ZidanePosted: Tuesday September 17, 2002 7:43 AMMUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -- Franz Beckenbauer believes Bayern Munich playmaker Michael Ballack is just as good as Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane, if not better. "Who will be the king of Europe?" the Bayern president wrote in a column in Tuesday's Bild newspaper. "My favorite is Michael Ballack." Beckenbauer, whose team starts its Champions League campaign at home against Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday, acknowledged the Frenchman was the more elegant player. "But Ballack is not only five years younger than Zidane," wrote the World Cup-winning captain and coach. "He's also more dangerous in front of goal and moves up front more often. "I'm totally honest by saying that I wouldn't swap him (Ballack) for Zidane." Ballack, who joined Bayern from last season's Champions League finalists Bayer Leverkusen, bruised his left foot in a Bundesliga game Saturday. Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was to decide later Tuesday whether the German international could play against Deportivo but Ballack sounded confident. "It doesn't hurt anymore," the 25-year-old told Bild. "I will play." Hitzfeld will definitely be without wing-back Bixente Lizarazu, who has a sore right knee and is also hampered by back pain. The Frenchman is set to be replaced by Michael Tarnat. Brazilian striker Elber said he felt Bayern, who won the Champions League in 2001, could go all the way this season again. "We have a dream and we have a team capable of winning the Champions League," he said. "Real are the big favorites, until they play against us." Depor keen to play underdog role against BayernLA CORUNA, Spain (Reuters) -- Deportivo Coruna coach Javier Irureta has been keen to portray his team as the underdog ahead of its opening Champions League group G match at Bayern Munich. "Bayern are a fantastic team from another dimension," Irureta was quoted as saying by Spanish sports daily Marca on Tuesday. "They were always a difficult team to beat in Munich and with their new signings they have now become even more powerful." Among Bayern's reinforcements are former Bayer Leverkusen pair Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto, who helped guide the German side to the final of last season's Champions League. Irureta said he was concerned by the effects that injuries and suspensions would have on his team who have been drawn alongside AC Milan and Lens in one of the toughest groups in the first phase of the competition. "We have eight players unavailable at the moment and we are heading to Munich with a weakened squad that includes only 17 first team players," he said. Among the injured are first choice keeper Jose Molina, Portuguese defender Jorge Andrade, center-back Cesar and striker Diego Tristan, while Lionel Scaloni and Aldo Duscher are suspended. Strength in depth But Depor's strength in depth means that they still have a string of top class players ready to step in. The experienced Juanmi will replace Molina in goal, while the veteran Donato and Joan Capdevila are ready to fill in in defense alongside Moroccan international Noureddine Naybet and Hector. Tristan, who was top scorer in the Spanish league last season, was forced to withdraw from the squad Tuesday morning with a suspected ankle problem and will be replaced by new signing and fellow Spanish international Albert Luque. Dutch striker Roy Makaay believes the underdog tag will favor the Galicians, who reached the last eight in their previous two Champions League appearances. "Bayern are the favorites in their stadium, but we have nothing to lose," he said. "We have always done well in games against big clubs like Bayern and although it will be a tricky game we will be doing our best to get the Champions League off to a good start."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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