Basle vs CFR Cluj-Napoca preview - Fink sorry for outburst

Posted Tuesday, November 23, 2010 by PA

Basle head into their vital Champions League match against Cluj on the back of a far from ideal build-up after manager Thorsten Fink was forced to apologise for a rant against opposition fans on Saturday.

During their Schweizer Cup match against second-tier side Servette, which they needed extra time and penalties to negotiate, Fink became enraged at a section of the home support, making a gesture to them and apparently calling them "bums".

A penitent Fink said afterwards: "It was not about the referee or an opponent, but two or three fans were being offensive.

"There were no racist comments, but something of that nature provoked me. I'm sorry."

Fink needs quickly to shift the focus to matters on the pitch as the two bottom sides in Group E prepare to clash at St Jakob-Park.

The equation is the same for both teams - a win would keep them in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, while anything less could spell the end.

Extra time was the last thing the side needed with such an important game on the horizon, with Alex Frei and Benjamin Huggel both playing 60 minutes off the bench when Fink had hoped to rest them.

"The thing that annoyed me is that we have lost fitness before the game Tuesday," said the coach.

And there was worse news for Fink, who saw two more players pick up injuries in the game.

On top of the already sidelined Marco Streller and Valentin Stocker, Scott Chipperfield injured a calf while Jacques Zoua sustained a muscular problem.

Both Basle and Cluj have three points - three fewer than second-placed Roma - and are relying to some extent on the result of the group's other game between the Italian side and Bayern Munich, who boast a perfect record.

Cluj currently sit above the Swiss team having won the fixture between the two sides back in September, while Basle's only points came, impressively, from a win at Roma.

Cluj are suffering a miserable season domestically, sitting a lowly eighth in the table, although they are unbeaten in five league games.