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