Thursday, March 11, 2004
'We fear no one' - Vieira
维埃拉：冠军杯不怕任何对手
Patrick Vieira has insisted that Arsenal will fear no one in tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final draw - including pre-tournament favourites Real Madrid and holders AC Milan.
对于明天的冠军杯8强抽签，维埃拉表示阿森纳不害怕任何对手，哪怕抽签结果是对黄麻或者米兰。
Vieira believes that Arsenal are a 'different team' since their only other appearance in the last eight of the competition, when they went out on away goals to Valencia in 2001.
2001年，阿森纳在对瓦伦西亚的1/4决赛中，因净胜球劣势而被淘汰，维埃拉认为现在的阿森纳与那时侯已经大不相同了。
And while he would rather avoid an all-English tie against Chelsea, the Arsenal captain declared that confidence is now sky high at Highbury.
He declared: 'This is where the hard work starts. The two favourites are AC Milan and Real Madrid, and I think they're the two best teams left in the competition.
“冠军杯的夺冠热门是米兰和黄麻，他们是现在冠军杯中最强的两支队伍。”
'But even if it was Milan or Real, there would be no reason to be scared. We are playing really well and to play against any team would be all right.
“即使我们是和米兰或者黄麻分在一起，那也没有什么可怕的。和任何一个对手交手我们都能踢好。”
'We would just have to perform on the day. When you get to the quarter-finals, you expect to play against a big team and I think every other team would say that Arsenal are in good form.
'I just hope that we're not drawn against Chelsea as that would be sad. We'd hope to play against a team from a different country.'
“希望我们不会与切尔西分在一起，我们更希望抽到其他国家的球队。”
The best case scenario for Arsenal would be facing one of the two French sides - Monaco, who were taken to the Champions League semi-finals by Wenger in 1994, or Lyon, whom they beat away and drew against at home in their run to the last eight in 2001.
French winger Robert Pires admitted: 'Of course I congratulate Lyon and Monaco in making the quarter-finals. It's not very often that there are two French clubs in the last eight.
法国边锋皮雷说到：“祝贺里昂和摩纳哥晋级1/4决赛。8强中能有两支来自法甲的球队很难得。”
'We are showing that the French are playing very well everywhere in Europe. Of course, I would like to play against Lyon or Monaco but it doesn't matter who we will play.'
“这证明了法国队伍在欧洲也能与出色的表现。如果阿森纳和里昂或者摩纳哥抽在一起也不错，当然了，对手是谁无所谓。”
That draw could also enable Dennis Bergkamp, who does not fly, to be available for both legs and, even at 34, he underlined his importance to his side in their 2-0 second leg victory against Celta Vigo last night.
Apart from Chelsea, Real and AC Milan, Deportivo La Coruna, who beat the Gunners twice in 2002, and Manchester United's conquerors Porto are the other alternatives lying in wait in tomorrow's open draw.
Vieira admitted: 'We were quite disappointed for United to go out as it would have been quite good to have three English teams left in the competition.
维埃拉：“曼联的出局非常遗憾，如果三支英超球队都能进入8强就好了。”
'It would have shown how good the Premiership is. But it's going to be Chelsea and ourselves, and we will do our best to represent English football.'
“那样的话就可说明英超联赛的实力。但现在只剩下切尔西和我们了，因此我们要代表英超尽力打好比赛。”
Arsenal have certainly grown in stature and experience in the three years since they took a 2-1 lead to Valencia in 2001 only to succumb to a late header from John Carew.
'We didn't deserve to go out against Valencia in those two games. But hopefully we have learned a lot since then and can go to the semi-finals this time,' insisted Vieira.
“（01年的比赛）当时我们有机会不被瓦伦西亚淘汰的。不过自那以后我们取得了很大进步，这次也打进了1/4决赛。”
'We are more patient and experienced, and we are determined not to lose our shape. It's important to be organised against good teams.
'We are still a long way from where we want to go. To reach the quarter-finals is good but it's not good enough for us as we want to improve and go forward. It's going to be exciting.'
Having been just two minutes from elimination at home to Dynamo Kiev in the first group stage, Arsenal's victory against Celta was their fifth consecutive win in the competition - equalling Manchester United's English record.
Thierry Henry was nevertheless anxious to play down Arsenal's chances, preferring to let their football do their talking for them.
'To be in the last eight doesn't mean anything for me. The only thing is to try and win it,' insisted the French international.
'Last season, when we won 3-1 at Roma, people said `who is going to stop them?' But we didn't win anything. So we must just keep our feet on the ground and just do everything we can to win the games.'
