UC: Larissa v Blackburn: Preview

Larissa v Blackburn

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has hailed Roque Santa Cruz as one of the bargains of recent years.

With winger Morten Gamst Pedersen likening striker Santa Cruz to Fernando Torres, and given the £19million difference between the duo, you can appreciate Hughes' sentiments.

Liverpool splashed out a club record £23million on Spanish star Torres, while Hughes shopped around before picking up Paraguay international Santa Cruz for just £3.8million from Bayern Munich.

The 26-year-old scored on his debut with only his second touch in English football, and has weighed in with another two goals since.

Santa Cruz has so far displayed all the qualities of an archetypal striker, much to Pedersen's delight as he is an ideal target man.

``He's good in the air, good with the ball, has pace and is strong - he's a bit like Torres. They have the same kind of qualities,'' assessed Pedersen.

``It's good to play with him, and good to have a player like him on our side. I'm glad he signed for us.

``He's a bargain from what I've see him of him so far. He's been brilliant for us.

``Although he can score goals, I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. He's just going to get better and better.

``Once he gets to know us better, then hopefully he can give us more.''

There is no doubt Santa Cruz has made a fine impact in the Premier League so far, but given he is playing for Rovers, appreciably he has attracted far fewer headlines than Torres.

But more pertinently for Hughes, the Welshman said: ``Well, he's a lot cheaper.''

He added: ``Roque has proved in the short space of time we've had with him that he is a top quality striker.

``The price I was able to acquire him for makes him one of the best buys of the summer, if not for many summers.

``He has the potential to be an outstanding player for us for a long time.

``It goes to show that you can get a player of his quality at a decent price.

``A lot of people looked at Roque, but sometimes if you look too closely then you can look at their negatives rather than their positives, and that's happened here.

``I preferred to look at the qualities he could bring to the squad and the team, and that's why I went for him.''

Rovers have already played four times this season as they started with the Intertoto Cup before progressing to a UEFA Cup qualifying round.

There is every likelihood Santa Cruz will lead the line against Greek Cup winners Larissa as Blackburn look to progress to the group stages and extend their current 15-match unbeaten run.

Pedersen believes expectations are rising, particularly as Rovers are now viewed as more of a football team than for their previous aggressive reputation.

``The longer you go without losing, then people will expect you to do well, and you get pressure,'' said Norway winger Pedersen.

``In the beginning we were told we were kicking people, and when we took points from a good team it was because they were bad and we didn't do well.

``Maybe now people are looking at us as a good side. I think we're a good side, we've a good squad and we can compete with any team.

``So of course, we can win this competition.''

Christopher Samba is Hughes' only absentee for the tie at the Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos - Larissa's Alkazar Stadium does not conform to UEFA standards - due to concussion sustained in Saturday's goalless draw at Chelsea.

Source: Soccernet.com