It is the last Tango in the Turkish Turkcell Super League and It's the Championship Saturday too.
Turkcell Super League Leader Besiktas could clinch the title with a away win or a draw in Denizli.
Denizlispor who is safe by only goal average, would want to get at least a point from Besiktas to reach 39 points mark.
But, a draw might cost a problem for Besiktas if Sivasspor beats Galatasaray in Istanbul and scores three or more goals they could well capture the leagues Championship .
Could this happened?....
It could well be!...
This is very crucial weekend for Sivasspor!..
Not only, not winning the Championship , they could also lose the second place to Trabzonspor, if they lose against Galatasaray in Istanbul.
That is why, a win is a must for Sivasspor, not only hope for the championship also to retain the second place...
If they lose on Saturday it will be disaster for Sivasspor fans...
Instead of getting shot at the Champions League, they will end up in third place and they will end up in the newly formated Euro League qualification matches.
So, Turkcell Super League's top and bottom and the last weekend is very complicated!...
The team who is following Sivasspor , Trabzonspor will host This years most disappointed team Fenerbahce in Trabzon.
While Trabzonspor is at 65 point, Sivasspor is at 66 points.
The team who sits on top, Besiktas ,at 68 points...
FIRE AT THE BOTTOM STILL GOES ON....
At the bottom, Konyaspor and Antalyaspor will play life and death match on Saturday. Antalyaspor will be home against Ankaragucu while Konyaspor will hoat another Ankara team Ankaraspor.
Konyaspor has to beat Ankaraspor and look for a little help from Ankaragucu team.
In case of a draw in Antalyaspor v Ankaragucu match even Konyaspor wins at home they will be the team that will relegate to the Banka Asya Turkish First League next season.
Hacettepe and Kocaelispor already said good-bye to the Turkcell Super League ...
So, the long 34 week marathon, in the Turkish Turkcell Super league will come to end this Saturday.
The winners will be happy and the losers will be sad!.......
"The Thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" will be felt in the Turkish Turkcell Super League this Saturday...
Lastly, Let's welcome the newcomers to the League.....
Diyarbakirspor, Kasimpasa and Manisaspor to the Turkcell Super League...
Enjoy your Championship Saturday....
Follow the matches live at www.turkishsoccer.com
AHMET TURGUT
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Roberto Carlos Admits Talking To Fluminense Team
According to reports from Brazil media and ESPN Brazil Roberto Carlos talked to Fluminense team officials.
Here is what he told ESPN Brazil" "Rumors about Fluminense are true. There have been contacts with the board, though I've been talking to another teams too; still, Flu is a true offer, I have nothing to hide,"
According to Reports, Carlos gave an interview to the the Television station in Brazil.
He went on in the interview and said "he feels "quiet, calm and happy" in Turkey, said his contract with Fenerbahce expires next year, though it is said he could get a one-year extension deal.
"They want me to stay one more year, let's see what's the best for both. I have to reach an agreement with Fenerbache,"
The Brazilian player admitted he had held talks to join Fluminense, though he said it all depends on Fenerbahce's last word.
AHMET TURGUT
Monday, May 25, 2009
Besiktas One Step Closer To The Title.
Turkcell Super League Review...
Besiktas is one step closer heading into the final weekend of the Turkish Turkcell Super League season with a two-point lead after they beat Galatasaray 2-1.
Yusuf Simsek scored a valuable winner for his side on the hour mark after Australia international Harry Kewell (49) had canceled out a Deivson Bobo strike four minutes before half-time.
Sivasspor the other top contender, stayed in touch with a 3-2 win at home to Genclerbirligi.
Sivasspor had gone behind when James Troisi netted after 22 minutes and, while Genclerbirligi held that lead until the break, they would concede three times in 21 minutes after half-time.
Half-time substitute Yannick Kamanan got the ball rolling after 49 minutes before further goals from Herve Tum (60) and Murat Erdogan (66).
Jacques Momha (77) pulled a goal back but it was not enough.
Trabzonspor won 5-2 at Eskisehirspor to stay three points behind Besiktas, although a goal difference deficit of eight almost certainly rules out their title hopes.
They went some way to improving their goal difference tonight, however, with Ceyhun Gulselam (18, 63) and Alanzinho (39, 89) both scoring a brace to go with Umut Bulut's (78) solitary effort.
Doga Kaya (66) and Souleymane Youla (74) scored for Eskisehirspor.
Antalyaspor moved two points clear of the drop zone after they drew 0-0 with
Ankaraspor while third-from-bottom Konyaspor lost 4-2 at Fenerbahce.
Daniel Guiza (14, 17), Ugur Boral (38) and Roberto Carlos (40) had put Fener out of sight before consolation goals for Roman Kratochvil (75pen) and Branimir Poljac (90).
After losing to Fenerbahce, Konyaspor will be looking for miracles to stay in the league in the last weekend.
First, They have to beat Ankaraspor at home and than, hope, Ankaragucu beat Antalyaspor in Antalyaspor.
Antalyaspor has 37 points and Konyaspor has 35 points at the end of 33th week.
Ankaragucu recorded a resounding 3-0 win at home to Denizlispor with Silvino Joao Jaba (34), Mehmet Yilmaz (63) and Semavi Ozgur (67) on target.
In the other match, Gaziantepspor twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Bursaspor.
Besiktas is one step closer heading into the final weekend of the Turkish Turkcell Super League season with a two-point lead after they beat Galatasaray 2-1.
Yusuf Simsek scored a valuable winner for his side on the hour mark after Australia international Harry Kewell (49) had canceled out a Deivson Bobo strike four minutes before half-time.
Sivasspor the other top contender, stayed in touch with a 3-2 win at home to Genclerbirligi.
Sivasspor had gone behind when James Troisi netted after 22 minutes and, while Genclerbirligi held that lead until the break, they would concede three times in 21 minutes after half-time.
Half-time substitute Yannick Kamanan got the ball rolling after 49 minutes before further goals from Herve Tum (60) and Murat Erdogan (66).
Jacques Momha (77) pulled a goal back but it was not enough.
Trabzonspor won 5-2 at Eskisehirspor to stay three points behind Besiktas, although a goal difference deficit of eight almost certainly rules out their title hopes.
They went some way to improving their goal difference tonight, however, with Ceyhun Gulselam (18, 63) and Alanzinho (39, 89) both scoring a brace to go with Umut Bulut's (78) solitary effort.
Doga Kaya (66) and Souleymane Youla (74) scored for Eskisehirspor.
Antalyaspor moved two points clear of the drop zone after they drew 0-0 with
Ankaraspor while third-from-bottom Konyaspor lost 4-2 at Fenerbahce.
Daniel Guiza (14, 17), Ugur Boral (38) and Roberto Carlos (40) had put Fener out of sight before consolation goals for Roman Kratochvil (75pen) and Branimir Poljac (90).
After losing to Fenerbahce, Konyaspor will be looking for miracles to stay in the league in the last weekend.
First, They have to beat Ankaraspor at home and than, hope, Ankaragucu beat Antalyaspor in Antalyaspor.
Antalyaspor has 37 points and Konyaspor has 35 points at the end of 33th week.
Ankaragucu recorded a resounding 3-0 win at home to Denizlispor with Silvino Joao Jaba (34), Mehmet Yilmaz (63) and Semavi Ozgur (67) on target.
In the other match, Gaziantepspor twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Bursaspor.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Galatasaray Will Decide Who Will Be The Turkish Champion!
CAN BESIKTAS CLINCH THE TITLE THIS WEEKEND?....
Two weeks to go in the Turkish Turkcell Super League, the team ,who will have saying, in this race, will be Galatasaray .
Galatasaray playing this weekend on Sunday, against the League Leader Besiktas and than in the last weekend of the league, next weekend they will face Leagues another top contender Sivasspor in Istanbul.
So , Galatasaray will decide who will be the Champions of Turkey this season, since they can't make it to there!...
If Besiktas Beat Galatasaray on this Sunday , Besiktas will be one step closer to the title, in my opinion.
But, In case of crash, this could spell danger for Besiktas.
While Besiktas will be playing a Istanbul derby match Second place Sivasspor will host a team who is desperate for points , Genclerbirlgi.
This match will be close one too...
If Sivasspor wants to keep the pressure on Besiktas they have to win this home match
There is no if or buts about it....
Most of the matches will be played on Sunday except one match, Kayserispor v Hacettepe.
That match will be on Saturday.......
All the sunday matches will start at same time(20:00) Turkish local time.
Can Besiktas do it and clinch the Turkish Turkcell Super League Title...
That is up to first Mustafa Denizli's Besiktas team!...
If they play as a team and they have a desire to win they will do it...
But, like I said , Galatasaray holds the Championship cards in this last two wekends.
It will not be easy....
FIRE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE....
Just think, the team who is in 9th place with 40 points Ankaraspor will be listening the news will come from Fenerbahce v Konyasspor match on Sunday.
If Konyaspor goes down in Sukru Saracoglu Stadium against Fenerbace , they will most likely the third team will relegate from the Turkcell Super league.
That is why this match is very important to Konyaspor and the other teams too.
Konyaspor have 35 points and there is a lot of team between 35 points and 40 points.
A win for Konyaspor against Fenerbahce will shake and rattle the bottom of the league.
This has to be the match of the week in my opinion!...
Early in the week, Konyaspor team sacked Giray Bulak, and rehired their former coach Unal Karaman!..
So, The top and the bottom of the league, might just shape up after this Sunday...
Or, it will go down to the wire in the last weekend of the season....
Lastly, Eskisehirspor who is fighting for their life in the league after beating Konyaspor in Konya last weekend, The players from this team were protesting the team officials about not getting paid in the last eight weeks!...
They ended their protest on Friday, I wonder , if they got paid!...
It is Absurd and it is stupid ,to call these teams, Professionals teams!..
This is what happens, when politics gets involved in any sport in Turkey....
Here is the matches for 33th week in the Turkcell Super League....
SATURDAY
Kayseri - Hacettepe
SUNDAY
Ankaraspor - Antalyaspor
Beşiktaş - Galatasaray
Bursaspor - Gaziantepspor
Eskişehirspor - Trabzonspor
Fenerbahçe - Konyaspor
Kocaelispor - İstanbul BB
MKE Ankaragücü - Denizlispor
Sivasspor - Gençlerbirliği
STANDINGS.........
1 Besiktas 32 19 8 5 56-28 65
2 Sivasspor 32 18 9 5 50-24 63
3 Trabzonspor 32 18 8 6 48-30 62
4 Galatasaray 32 17 7 8 54-36 58
5 Fenerbahce 32 16 7 9 54-33 55
6 Bursaspor 32 15 9 8 44-34 54
7 Gaziantepspor 32 12 9 11 43-45 45
8 Kayserispor 32 11 11 10 33-26 44
9 Ankaraspor 32 11 7 14 36-39 40
10 Eskisehirspor 32 10 9 13 42-43 39
11 Buyuksehir 32 11 6 15 34-43 39
12 Genclerbirligi 32 10 8 14 36-43 38
13 Denizlispor 32 11 5 16 38-47 38
14 Antalyaspor 32 9 9 14 33-42 36
15 Ankaragucu 32 10 6 16 33-46 36
16 Konyaspor 32 9 8 15 30-42 35
17 Kocaelispor 32 7 5 20 41-70 26
18 Hacettepe Spor 32 5 7 20 24-58 22
AHMET TURGUT
Two weeks to go in the Turkish Turkcell Super League, the team ,who will have saying, in this race, will be Galatasaray .
Galatasaray playing this weekend on Sunday, against the League Leader Besiktas and than in the last weekend of the league, next weekend they will face Leagues another top contender Sivasspor in Istanbul.
So , Galatasaray will decide who will be the Champions of Turkey this season, since they can't make it to there!...
If Besiktas Beat Galatasaray on this Sunday , Besiktas will be one step closer to the title, in my opinion.
But, In case of crash, this could spell danger for Besiktas.
While Besiktas will be playing a Istanbul derby match Second place Sivasspor will host a team who is desperate for points , Genclerbirlgi.
This match will be close one too...
If Sivasspor wants to keep the pressure on Besiktas they have to win this home match
There is no if or buts about it....
Most of the matches will be played on Sunday except one match, Kayserispor v Hacettepe.
That match will be on Saturday.......
All the sunday matches will start at same time(20:00) Turkish local time.
Can Besiktas do it and clinch the Turkish Turkcell Super League Title...
That is up to first Mustafa Denizli's Besiktas team!...
If they play as a team and they have a desire to win they will do it...
But, like I said , Galatasaray holds the Championship cards in this last two wekends.
It will not be easy....
FIRE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE....
Just think, the team who is in 9th place with 40 points Ankaraspor will be listening the news will come from Fenerbahce v Konyasspor match on Sunday.
If Konyaspor goes down in Sukru Saracoglu Stadium against Fenerbace , they will most likely the third team will relegate from the Turkcell Super league.
That is why this match is very important to Konyaspor and the other teams too.
Konyaspor have 35 points and there is a lot of team between 35 points and 40 points.
A win for Konyaspor against Fenerbahce will shake and rattle the bottom of the league.
This has to be the match of the week in my opinion!...
Early in the week, Konyaspor team sacked Giray Bulak, and rehired their former coach Unal Karaman!..
So, The top and the bottom of the league, might just shape up after this Sunday...
Or, it will go down to the wire in the last weekend of the season....
Lastly, Eskisehirspor who is fighting for their life in the league after beating Konyaspor in Konya last weekend, The players from this team were protesting the team officials about not getting paid in the last eight weeks!...
They ended their protest on Friday, I wonder , if they got paid!...
It is Absurd and it is stupid ,to call these teams, Professionals teams!..
This is what happens, when politics gets involved in any sport in Turkey....
Here is the matches for 33th week in the Turkcell Super League....
SATURDAY
Kayseri - Hacettepe
SUNDAY
Ankaraspor - Antalyaspor
Beşiktaş - Galatasaray
Bursaspor - Gaziantepspor
Eskişehirspor - Trabzonspor
Fenerbahçe - Konyaspor
Kocaelispor - İstanbul BB
MKE Ankaragücü - Denizlispor
Sivasspor - Gençlerbirliği
STANDINGS.........
1 Besiktas 32 19 8 5 56-28 65
2 Sivasspor 32 18 9 5 50-24 63
3 Trabzonspor 32 18 8 6 48-30 62
4 Galatasaray 32 17 7 8 54-36 58
5 Fenerbahce 32 16 7 9 54-33 55
6 Bursaspor 32 15 9 8 44-34 54
7 Gaziantepspor 32 12 9 11 43-45 45
8 Kayserispor 32 11 11 10 33-26 44
9 Ankaraspor 32 11 7 14 36-39 40
10 Eskisehirspor 32 10 9 13 42-43 39
11 Buyuksehir 32 11 6 15 34-43 39
12 Genclerbirligi 32 10 8 14 36-43 38
13 Denizlispor 32 11 5 16 38-47 38
14 Antalyaspor 32 9 9 14 33-42 36
15 Ankaragucu 32 10 6 16 33-46 36
16 Konyaspor 32 9 8 15 30-42 35
17 Kocaelispor 32 7 5 20 41-70 26
18 Hacettepe Spor 32 5 7 20 24-58 22
AHMET TURGUT
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
WHAT A HONOR FOR LUCESCU TO WIN THE UEFA CUP IN ISTANBUL
Lucescu's Shakhtar Donetsk wins the last UEFA Cup in Istanbul Turkey.
He won two championship in Turkey with
Galatasaray and Besiktas and The UEFA Super Cup with Galatasaray , still he was rejected by team officials and Turkish media in Turkey.
This should be the most proud moment for Romanian coach to lift the last UEFA Cup in Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
In a way this was a slap in the face for those who called him all kinds of names while he was coaching in Turkey.
Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Jadson scored in extra time Wednesday to clinch the last UEFA Cup with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen.
The teams had drawn 1-1 through regular time at Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu Stadium before Jadson, one of five Brazilian players in Shakhtar's lineup, hit a shot from about 12 yards in the 97th minute.
"I am happy that we continued the success of Ukrainian teams. I hope this result will give us more stamina and strength to prepare for the 2012 (European Championships)," Lucescu told reporters.
"The team is very young and I hope no players will leave the team. We want to do well in the Champions League. I think we can do better than we did today," he said.
"I think the Champions League will be the future aim for these east European countries," he added.
AHMET TURGUT
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
USA TODAY: Turkey hoping UEFA Cup final helps Euro 2016 bid
Turkey is hoping Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Istanbul can be the latest step in a transformation from one of football's backwaters into a major power.
The match between Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk, the last before the 38-year-old tournament is rebranded as the Europa League, will be the second European final to be staged in the Turkish metropolis in four years.
The prestige is huge, but even more important is the chance to convince officials and fans that the country is a realistic contender to host the 2016 European Championship.
The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul was beset by logistical problems but enough of a success for UEFA to now let it host the second-tier tournament, albeit at a different, more central stadium on the Asian side of the Bosporus Strait dividing the city.
A trouble-free event at Fenerbahce's 53,586-seat Sukru Saracoglu Stadium could be a trump card when European football's governing body decides in May 2010 where to stage Euro 2016, which will be the first European Championship to be expanded from 16 nations to 24.
"I sincerely believe that Istanbul, as a city that connects Europe and Asia, is an excellent choice for the last final of the UEFA Cup," Turkish Football Association president Mahmut Ozgener said. "The Turkish Football Association gained a lot of experience from organizing the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
"We consider holding the UEFA Cup final as another important milestone for Turkey and the Turkish FA, who are eager to host Euro 2016."
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu spent four years coaching in Istanbul with city rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas and appears to have no qualms about the city's suitability for hosting major events.
"It is a very beautiful and interesting city," Lucescu said. "Those years brought me a lot of happiness. Those years were very good years in my career. I established good relations with all fans, no matter which club they were fans of.
"Turkish fans are incredible supporters who understand the game in all its aspects, which is why Istanbul well deserved to host the UEFA Cup final."
A city of almost 13 million people, Istanbul hosts four professional football clubs, with Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce the most well known.
Famed for the intimidating atmospheres created by those fanatical supporters -- who have sometimes overstepped the mark with "Welcome to Hell" banners and instances of throat-slitting gestures -- Istanbul is a city passionate about sport, and football in particular.
"I cannot think of a more exciting, vibrant setting for this year's UEFA Cup final than Istanbul, where football is woven into the tapestry of everyday life," UEFA president Michel Platini said. "Istanbul is a remarkable city."
There have been more serious problems, though.
Violence erupted most notoriously when two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in the city in April 2000 ahead of a UEFA Cup semifinal against Galatasaray, while Liverpool's famous Champions League final win over AC Milan was blighted by traffic jams that prevented many supporters from making it to the Ataturk Stadium in time to see the English club rally from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and win a penalty shootout.
Such instances make it even more crucial for Istanbul to host a trouble-free event Wednesday to have any chance of winning the rights to Euro 2016 in the face of competition from Italy, France and a joint Norway-Sweden bid.
All are more established football nations with, Norway aside, experience of hosting major tournaments.
Source: : USA TODAY and AP
The match between Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk, the last before the 38-year-old tournament is rebranded as the Europa League, will be the second European final to be staged in the Turkish metropolis in four years.
The prestige is huge, but even more important is the chance to convince officials and fans that the country is a realistic contender to host the 2016 European Championship.
The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul was beset by logistical problems but enough of a success for UEFA to now let it host the second-tier tournament, albeit at a different, more central stadium on the Asian side of the Bosporus Strait dividing the city.
A trouble-free event at Fenerbahce's 53,586-seat Sukru Saracoglu Stadium could be a trump card when European football's governing body decides in May 2010 where to stage Euro 2016, which will be the first European Championship to be expanded from 16 nations to 24.
"I sincerely believe that Istanbul, as a city that connects Europe and Asia, is an excellent choice for the last final of the UEFA Cup," Turkish Football Association president Mahmut Ozgener said. "The Turkish Football Association gained a lot of experience from organizing the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
"We consider holding the UEFA Cup final as another important milestone for Turkey and the Turkish FA, who are eager to host Euro 2016."
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu spent four years coaching in Istanbul with city rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas and appears to have no qualms about the city's suitability for hosting major events.
"It is a very beautiful and interesting city," Lucescu said. "Those years brought me a lot of happiness. Those years were very good years in my career. I established good relations with all fans, no matter which club they were fans of.
"Turkish fans are incredible supporters who understand the game in all its aspects, which is why Istanbul well deserved to host the UEFA Cup final."
A city of almost 13 million people, Istanbul hosts four professional football clubs, with Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce the most well known.
Famed for the intimidating atmospheres created by those fanatical supporters -- who have sometimes overstepped the mark with "Welcome to Hell" banners and instances of throat-slitting gestures -- Istanbul is a city passionate about sport, and football in particular.
"I cannot think of a more exciting, vibrant setting for this year's UEFA Cup final than Istanbul, where football is woven into the tapestry of everyday life," UEFA president Michel Platini said. "Istanbul is a remarkable city."
There have been more serious problems, though.
Violence erupted most notoriously when two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in the city in April 2000 ahead of a UEFA Cup semifinal against Galatasaray, while Liverpool's famous Champions League final win over AC Milan was blighted by traffic jams that prevented many supporters from making it to the Ataturk Stadium in time to see the English club rally from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and win a penalty shootout.
Such instances make it even more crucial for Istanbul to host a trouble-free event Wednesday to have any chance of winning the rights to Euro 2016 in the face of competition from Italy, France and a joint Norway-Sweden bid.
All are more established football nations with, Norway aside, experience of hosting major tournaments.
Source: : USA TODAY and AP
Last UEFA CUP Final Will Be In Istanbul,Turkey.
Germany's Werder Bremen will face Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in the last UEFA Cup final in Istanbul,Turkey.
Werder Bremen will hope to make up for a disappointing league campaign by beating Shakhtar Donetsk to capture the UEFA Cup on Wednesday and then use that success as a springboard to also capture the German Cup.
But while Thomas Schaaf's team chases a cup double it has slipped to 10th in the 18-team Bundesliga and is out of contention for qualification for the Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup next season.
"We have experienced a lot of downs but we are through to two finals," Bremen striker Markus Rosenberg said. "It's been a strange season. We are used to challenging for the Bundesliga title but that did not happen. Instead we did really well in the cups."
The Sweden striker hopes to rediscover his goal-scoring touch in Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
"It has been a really strange season for me too. I started really well and scored quite a few goals. I don't know what happened," he said. "I am saving my goals for the UEFA Cup final.
"It will be the biggest game I have ever played for a club. It's second only to a Champions League final. So far I have only won a Dutch Cup with Ajax so I would love to add another title to my collection."
Rosenberg is set to replace the suspended Hugo Almeida and, like Peru international Claudio Pizarro, is fit again after missing Saturday's match against Karlsruhe.
But captain Frank Baumann is struggling to shake off a thigh muscle injury and central defender Per Mertesacker is out with a right-foot injury.
"We have enough classy players, no matter who plays," sporting director Klaus Allofs said.
Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese insists that the team should not be disheartened by its failure to mount a credible league challenge.
"There is not much difference between winning a championship or a cup," the 27-year-old Wiese said. "But this is the last UEFA Cup so it is very special to have made it to the final."
For Shakhtar Donetsk, Istanbul will be the culmination of a journey to reinvigorate Ukrainian football as the state has a team in a European final for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990.
The team has goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to thank for reaching the final after he let in just five goals in eight UEFA Cup matches on the way to Istanbul. Although Pyatov deflected praise to his defenders.
"All in all, it's more thanks to the defenders - my role is as a leader," the goalkeeper said. "The better I can lead the team - the defence, that is - the easier it is for me."
The 24-year-old Ukraine international said he is trying to forget the significance of the occasion.
"I'm calm," he said. "I've had other games and other finals before. This one is the final of the UEFA Cup and of course I think it means a lot to everyone. But life will go on ...
"Our goal was to win each individual match. We've stuck by this goal, gradually moving step by step, preparing ourselves psychologically to win each game and it's been successful."
Source: Wires
Werder Bremen will hope to make up for a disappointing league campaign by beating Shakhtar Donetsk to capture the UEFA Cup on Wednesday and then use that success as a springboard to also capture the German Cup.
But while Thomas Schaaf's team chases a cup double it has slipped to 10th in the 18-team Bundesliga and is out of contention for qualification for the Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup next season.
"We have experienced a lot of downs but we are through to two finals," Bremen striker Markus Rosenberg said. "It's been a strange season. We are used to challenging for the Bundesliga title but that did not happen. Instead we did really well in the cups."
The Sweden striker hopes to rediscover his goal-scoring touch in Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
"It has been a really strange season for me too. I started really well and scored quite a few goals. I don't know what happened," he said. "I am saving my goals for the UEFA Cup final.
"It will be the biggest game I have ever played for a club. It's second only to a Champions League final. So far I have only won a Dutch Cup with Ajax so I would love to add another title to my collection."
Rosenberg is set to replace the suspended Hugo Almeida and, like Peru international Claudio Pizarro, is fit again after missing Saturday's match against Karlsruhe.
But captain Frank Baumann is struggling to shake off a thigh muscle injury and central defender Per Mertesacker is out with a right-foot injury.
"We have enough classy players, no matter who plays," sporting director Klaus Allofs said.
Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese insists that the team should not be disheartened by its failure to mount a credible league challenge.
"There is not much difference between winning a championship or a cup," the 27-year-old Wiese said. "But this is the last UEFA Cup so it is very special to have made it to the final."
For Shakhtar Donetsk, Istanbul will be the culmination of a journey to reinvigorate Ukrainian football as the state has a team in a European final for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990.
The team has goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to thank for reaching the final after he let in just five goals in eight UEFA Cup matches on the way to Istanbul. Although Pyatov deflected praise to his defenders.
"All in all, it's more thanks to the defenders - my role is as a leader," the goalkeeper said. "The better I can lead the team - the defence, that is - the easier it is for me."
The 24-year-old Ukraine international said he is trying to forget the significance of the occasion.
"I'm calm," he said. "I've had other games and other finals before. This one is the final of the UEFA Cup and of course I think it means a lot to everyone. But life will go on ...
"Our goal was to win each individual match. We've stuck by this goal, gradually moving step by step, preparing ourselves psychologically to win each game and it's been successful."
Source: Wires
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