Abu Dhabi: "We've managed to rise to all the challenges that we've set ourselves. Now we're faced with one last hurdle to overcome. You just never know," said Lamine N'Diaye, Mazembe coach and former Senegal international ahead of today's Fifa Club World Cup finals against European Club champions Inter Milan.
Inspirational goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba, who has kept a clean slate in this year's campaign after being red-carded in the second game of last year's Club World Cup, said, "We're so proud to be flying the flag for Africa.
"We're now in the final and the Club World Cup is within touching distance. We're confident we can put in a performance that will enable us to lay our hands on it," Kidiaba added.
Touching distance
With the smiles back on the embattled Rafael Benitez, the Inter Milan coach said, "Mazembe will be a totally different opponent from the one we played in the semi-final. They are a strong side physically, almost a national side, if we consider it has almost all the best players from the Republic of Congo."
"Their most impressive [player] is their goalkeeper, then they have a very quick striker, and a solid midfield. Above all, they are a group that work hard, they never give up, they run just as fast even when they are tired," said Benitez, adding that he would play Eto'o on the left with Milito playing the dual role of a striker as well as a provider to his midfielders and advancing defenders.
Meanwhile, Portugal's former midfield maestro Luis Figo, who is part of Inter Milan, said, "We have to seize this chance in the final to make history and take the trophy back to Milan. The hardest thing about playing Mazembe in the final will be adapting to a side with a different style of football to what we're used to. Inter will have to play to the best of their abilities, just as they did in the semi-final against the South Koreans."
