The Schalke manager has admitted that his side face a tough draw in the UEFA Champions League.
Die Knappen have been drawn in Group B with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, Olympiacos and Montpellier. The side has avoided the ‘Group of Death’ but still faces stiff competition against three very good teams in Europe this season.
Stevens claimed that there is no easy group in the Champions League and stated that every team involved in the competition has immense quality. The manager added that his side will be up against a brilliant Arsenal side which has always been a threat in Europe.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281 Eindhoven boss stressed that Montpellier and Olympiacos are by no means easy sides as they have some world class players in their ranks. The boss stated that even though the Gunners have lost some main players this summer, they have enough quality to go far in the competition.
“There are no easy opponents in the Champions League. We're up against the champions of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Greece-c2908 plus Arsenal, a top club who we played in the Champions League some years ago,” he was quoted as saying in an interview to the club’s official website.
The tactician added that Montpellier won the French Ligue which is a huge achievement. He stated that a team which comes ahead of the likes of Lille, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon is surely not a bad team. Stevens is targeting to reach the knock-out stages of the competition at least.
“Olympiacos are a tough draw as well. And Montpellier are not champions of France for nothing. Any team that sees off the challenge of clubs such as Lille, PSG and Lyon has to have a certain quality. We're looking forward to the matches and want to do as well as possible,” the manager concluded.
Schalke will play their first game in the UEFA Champions League against Olympiacos in Greece. The Gunners will be looking to get their European campaign off to a winning start against the French champions in a bid to top the group in the end.
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