TNT Sports
Ziani eyes European spot
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Published 19/01/2007 at 23:00 GMT
EXCLUSIVE! Sochaux man-to-watch Karim Ziani tells eurosport.com that he thinks Sochaux can make the European spots this season. Last season's Ligue 2 player-of-the-year has impressed in their ascent this season and the Algeria winger is not short of confi
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“Sochaux have surprised a lot of people," Ziani said. "We have to prove we deserve to be so high up. We want to keep our place, and to qualify for a European competition."
“I was Alain Perrin's first summer signing. Before moving on, I knew he was the man of the situation, and that everything was going to work well.
“Our team has been built by coach Alain Perrin using smaller players, so we don't play physical football. Our midfielders and strikers are not tall or strong, so we play the best way we can.
“We do our best to be efficient, not to be spectacular, which comes to nothing. If the spectacle permits us to win, let's play spectacular football"
“I try to play attractive and creative football, it is my style. Sometimes it doesn't work - it is risky, but that's the way it is. I take my responsibilities.”
It has not all been positive for Sochaux, however, and losing to Le Mans in the League Cup last week has had an effect on the 24-year-old former Troyes man.
“I am still thinking about our elimination of the Coupe de la Ligue against Le Mans in the quarter finals," he admitted. "They were more effective than us, scoring twice in a minute after the break. That competition was one of our goals this season.
“Some matches have counted a lot to us. For example, our late victory against Marseille (1-0) against a very strong team showed us that we are capable of upsets. We play with our soul."
“Our last match before the winter break against Nancy meant a lot to me. In spite of conceding an early goal, we finally won 2-1.
"It gave us self confidence."
Sochaux currently lie fourth in Ligue 1.
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