Stevens remains focussed

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Salzburg boss Huub Stevens insists he is not worrying about results elsewhere as he prepares his side for Thursday's Europa League clash with Levski Sofia in Bulgaria.

Victory for the visitors, coupled with Villarreal failing to win against Lazio in the other match in Group G, would guarantee Salzburg's place in the next stage.

The Austrians top the pool with nine points from three matches - three ahead of Lazio and six clear of Villarreal - while Levski have yet to get off the mark.

But Stevens is not getting ahead of himself.

"We are not making calculations," the Dutchman said in the Osterreich newspaper. "We want to get a good result. Perhaps even a draw will help us."

Salzburg beat Levski 1-0 in their last game in the group thanks to Dusan Svento's goal. And with Stevens' side having conceded just once in the pool and Levski yet to score, the smart money appears to be on another Salzburg victory.

The Bulgarians, though, have recovered from a slow start to their domestic season to win their last two fixtures.

Their form has improved since sporting director Georgi Ivanov took control of first-team affairs last month, with Antoni Zdravkov as coach, following the resignation of Serbian Ratko Dostanic.

Stevens added: "They have overcome their crisis, and are now becoming stronger."

Salzburg, in contrast, have stuttered in the Austrian Bundesliga of late.

They may still lead the standings by a point, but Saturday's 2-0 win over SV Mattersburg was their first success in four league games.

They have also won just two of their seven away games in the league so far.

Injury problems have also added to Stevens' concerns, with attacking trio Alexander Zickler, Christoph Leitgeb and Svento all missing because of injury.

Ugandan defender Ibrahim Sekagya sustained a knock during training yesterday, while Somen Tchoyi is also a doubt.

Stevens is hopeful, though, that Sekagya will be fit.

He added: "He received a blow to his ankle. I hope of course that he can play.