|
|
Chelsea and Tottenham are Europa League heavyweights, says Rui Costa
Mar 15, 2013 3:15:00 PM
The Benfica sporting director says he is pleased to have avoided the two London clubs in Friday's draw, but still has a lot respect for their next opponents Newcastle
Benfica's director of football Rui Costa says Chelsea and Tottenham are favourites for the Europa League crown.Following Friday's draw it has been announced the Eagles will play Newcastle in the quarter-finals. The ties will be played on April 4 and 11, with the first leg being played in Portugal.
The Lisbon-based club are top of the Primeira Liga and the former AC Milan midfielder was pleased to have avoided the two other English clubs still in the competition, citing them as the two strongest teams left.
"They're [Chelsea and Spurs] the biggest favourites in this competition. But we most focus on this game, and not focus on whether we are playing against the favourites or not," said the former Portugal international.
Benfica enjoyed a 4-2 aggregate win against Bordeaux to progress to the last eight but the 40-year-old says their next European encounter will be far from a formality.
He added: "None of the games in this competition are easy, but it was a very difficult match against Bordeaux, and it will be against Newcastle. We must be ready and prepared to come up against an important side.
"They are a very good side, and they have great players. They may not be playing well in the Premier League, but they did very well last year and are an example of a very positive team, a very offensive team with great players. They deserve our respect and they will certainly have our greatest attention."
Chelsea, meanwhile, were drawn against Rubin Kazan while Tottenham face Basel in the Europa League quarter-finals.
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
|
| Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! |
|
| Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
|
Related Stories
Make Your Prediction
Manchester City FC - Chelsea FC
Manchester City FC
Chelsea FC
Prediction Submitted
Most Popular Predictions
-
Manchester City FC 1-3 Chelsea FC
- 13.91 %
-
Manchester City FC 3-1 Chelsea FC
- 12.37 %
-
Manchester City FC 1-2 Chelsea FC
- 10.73 %
Inside Goal.Com
-
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
-
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
-
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
-
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants Isco at Chelsea
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
-
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.
