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Zico wants Fenerbahce to go for the kill

Posted on April 8, 2008
Filed Under Chelsea

Fenerbahce coach Zico wants his side to keep attacking as they try to hold on to their slender lead in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Chelsea.

The Turkish champions have only a narrow advantage after their 2-1 win in Istanbul last week, so it would be easy for Zico to take a defensive approach at Stamford Bridge.

But the Brazilian made his name with his flamboyant displays for his country in the 1970s and 1980s and has the same philosophy as a coach. That means he will tell his players to go forward at every opportunity.

“We will play the way we always play. Our style is to be offensive and play attacking football. That is why we have got this far. It won’t be any different,” Zico said.

“Every minute is important. In the Sevilla game we were 2-0 down but came back. It might even go to extra-time.

“In a game as important as this you have to be careful throughout the game and take advantage of the good spells you have.”

Zico presents a zen-like calm in public so it was surprising to hear him take a dig at Chelsea manager Avram Grant’s selection policy.

“Chelsea have an excellent squad but sometimes players are not comfortable because of the position they are put in. I’m sure they can overcome that so we will have to be at our best,” he said.

Zico will wait until the last possible moment to see if Roberto Carlos is fit enough to feature as he recovers from a shin injury.

The Fenerbahce boss also has to make a decision over Mateja Kezman after the former Chelsea striker stormed out of the stadium when he was substituted on Saturday.

“I don’t have any problems with Kezman. He has never been disrespectful to me before. But he didn’t wait for his team-mates to finish the game and the management could take it further. We will have to wait and see,” Zico said.

Fenerbahce have Colin Kazim-Richards to thank for their dominant position in the tie. The former Brighton and Sheffield United striker, who came off the bench to spark his side into life with a well-taken equaliser, was keen to clear up any confusion over his name.

Born in east London, he was eligible for a Turkish passport because of his Turkish-Cypriot mother but had to drop his ‘Christian’ forenames as they are not permitted in Turkey and is now known as Kazim-Kazim.

“My name is Kazim-Richards. For politcal reasons I have to be called Kazim-Kazim if I want to play for Turkey. That’s what I’m called in the Turkish league,” he said.

“Because you are only allowed six foreign players in Turkish teams it gives me more chance of playing in the team. It’s not about what I’m called, it’s about getting a result against Chelsea.”

Whatever name he goes by, the striker is convinced he will be playing in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time if his side display the same confidence they showed in Istanbul.

“They have a big strong squad. But this is a big game for us. It is a big game in our history. It doesn’t matter that they have rested players for us, we have to take it for what it is,” Kazim-Richards said.

“Chelsea at home are a great team but we are coming here with confidence. we have a manager who instills a lot of confidence and calmness.

“We are actually winning the game so that gives us even more confidence. We have got to go at them and try to win the game.”

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