McClaren: "Twente not without chance"

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

FC Twente manager Steve McClaren does not think that his team are without chance in tonight's second leg of the Champions League qualifier away to Arsenal, even though his team are 2-0 down from the first leg.

"In Arnhem we saw that whoever scores the first goal has a good chance of winning the game. We shall attempt to score that first goal tonight. We start at 0-0 again," the Englishman said on Tuesday.

McClaren is still proud of his team's display in the first game: "I think we surprised Arsenal especially in the first half and that we reached a high level. Afterwards my players realized that they had had a chance to beat Arsenal and to get a result from the match. They were obviously disappointed."

Whatever the result may be tomorrow in the Emirates Stadium, McClaren thinks the game is more than just an encounter with a top side: "For these young lads it's a magnificent experience, they will al get better from this. They should enjoy it."

The former England manager will have to do without the suspended top scorer Blaise N'Kufo and because of the injury of his replacement Marko Arnautovic McClaren has few options up front.

On top he lost right back Luke Wilkshire this week.

The Australian left for Dynamo Moscow.

"The absence of Wilkshire and Arnautovic is a problem and we will have to find a solution. But we are not without chance against Arsenal, certainly not," McClaren said.