Ilie Dumitrescu about Steaua's Europa League group: "It will be spectacular!"

Ilie Dumitrescu says that Steaua got a tough group in Europa League but the games with 3 strong European teams will be a real challenge for the player.





Steaua landed yesterday on Henri Coandă Airport, returning from Zurich at 14:10. Four minutes later they found out that Liverpool will be their next opponent in the Europa League group stage. While getting their bags, the players learned the names of the other 2 rivals from group K.



The coach: "Hard group, but it motivates us"

"I onestly say that this will be extraordanary for us. It's a tough group, but this motivates us. These six games will be spectacular. How can you say that we don't stand a chance to qualify? If we didn't have a chance we wouldn't present ourselfs", said Ilie Dumitrescu.



The players: "Nice group"

The players were more reserved but they have a good feeling about the group. "We won't back down from a challenge in any match. We will fight from the same level with Liverpool, Napoli and Utrecht. We aren't afraid of them and we believe in our chances", said Dorel Stoica. "It's an honor to play against these teams, we'll play some great football. Who thinks we could have played weaker opponents is wrong", said Abrudan.



"Ilie Dumitrescu was in the airport when the draw took place and he told me he wanted tough opponents with big names. That's what we got. Until now we sat and watch them play on TV and now when we're going to play against them we start to complain?"

Valeriu Argăseală, Steaua's vicepresident



"I am happy that we got a stronger group than CFR Cluj. We are practically playing in a Champions League group, not them"

Gigi Becali, Steaua's owner



WHAT THE OPPONENTS SAY

"We don't have a tought group, we have a very tough group. Liverpool is probably the favourite team to win the Europa League, Steaua has a big history in Europe, and Utrecht comes from a quality football school"

Walter Mazzarri, Napoli's coach



"Europa League is not a priority for us, the championship is. But we haven't won a trophy in four years so it would be great if we could win the competition"

Steve Gerrard, Liverpool's captain



"This draw is fantastic for us and for our supporters because we will bring to our stadium some of the biggest names in European football. We know Liverpool very well, but we have no idea what is the level of Steaua and Napoli"

Du Chatinier, FC Utrecht's manager



"Even though Liverpool was in the number one pot they were drawed in a tough group with big names"

BBC



Group K schedule

Date    Matches    Time

16 September, 22:05

Liverpool - STEAUA

Napoli - Utrecht

30 September, 20:00

STEAUA - Napoli

Utrecht - Liverpool

21 October, 20:00

Utrecht - STEAUA

Napoli - Liverpool

4 November, 22:05

STEAUA - Utrecht

Liverpool - Napoli

2 December, 20:00

STEAUA - Liverpool

Utrecht - Napoli

15 December, 22:05

Napoli - STEAUA

Liverpool - Utrecht



GROUP A

Juventus

Manchester City

Red Bull Salzburg

Lech Poznan



GROUP B

Atletico Madrid

Bayer Leverkusen

Rosenborg

Aris Salonic



GROUP C

Sporting Lisabona

Lille

Levski Sofia

Genk



GROUP D

Villarreal

FC Bruges

Dinamo Zagreb

PAOK Salonic



GROUP E

AZ Alkmaar

Dinamo Kiev

Sheriff Tiraspol

Bate Borisov



GROUP F

ŢSKA Moscova

Palermo

Sparta Praga

Lausanne



GROUP G

Zenit

Anderlecht

AEK Atena

Hajduk Split



GROUP H

Stuttgart

Getafe

Odense

Young Bouys



GROUP I

Eindhoven

Sampdoria

Met. Harkov

Debrecen



GROUP J

Sevilla

PSG

Dortmund

Karpat Lvov



GROUP K

LIVERPOOL

STEAUA

NAPOLI

UTRECHT



GROUP L

Porto

Beşiktaş

ŢSKA Sofia

Rapid Viena