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INTERTOTO CUP: Veh wary of Stuttgart's trip to Saturn

/noticias.info/ Armin Veh told uefa.com that VfB Stuttgart have "no reason to underestimate the task that faces us" as they meet Russian opponents in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Tricky season
German champions in 2006/07, Stuttgart endured a tricky campaign last season, eventually finishing sixth to grab a place in the third round of the final edition of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Victory in their next tie would put the Swabian side into the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, but Veh has no doubt FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast will put up a stern challenge.

'Our goal'
"Our opponents won't be all that familiar to many football fans in Germany, but we see absolutely no reason to underestimate the task that faces us," he told uefa.com. "The European Championship proved that Russian football is improving. It's hard for us to prepare for the Intertoto Cup as well as the Bundesliga but it remains our goal to qualify for the UEFA Cup through the Intertoto Cup."

Important signings
The 47-year-old Veh has been pleased with Stuttgart's pre-season preparations. Their most significant summer arrivals have been Czech midfielder Jan Šimák, who is "highly motivated to prove himself at VfB and in the Bundesliga", and Arsenal FC goalkeeper Jens Lehmann who Veh described as "a fantastic goalkeeper and a very experienced player, who is capable of leading a team".

'A little early'
Veh also hinted at more new signings in the coming weeks. "We want to sign a defender and it's possible there could be further changes made to the squad by the end of the transfer period." However he would not be drawn on his targets for the season. "It's a little early for predictions right now," he said. "At the moment we are concentrating on preparing for the tasks ahead."

High expectations
Lessons have been learned from last season's campaign, and while injuries and poor early-season results played their part, Veh hopes his side are now ready to shoulder the pressure that comes with high expectations. "Our younger players had to learn to cope with the increased expectations upon them having won the German title," said Veh.

Saturn beckons
As to whether they can cut it in Europe this season, only time will tell, but with his team preparing for kick-off in Ramenskoye on Saturday, Veh hoped it would be a good year for German sides in Europe. "The [Bundesliga] teams that were among the favourites last season will be up there again," he said. "I hope that a German team can achieve success at international level this time around." notas_de_prensa_archivo