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DEL NIDO WARY OF 'DANGEROUS' BORO
By Ben Rumsby of Betting Zone
Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido has played down his side's tag as favourites for the UEFA Cup final, insisting Middlesbrough have an equally good chance of lifting the trophy on Wednesday.
Boro will start Wednesday's match in Eindhoven as underdogs but Del Nido points to the unbelievable comebacks against both Basle and Steaua Bucharest as proof Steve McClaren's men are not to be underestimated.
"Middlesbrough are dangerous opponents," he said.
"They eliminated good sides like Steaua and Roma and are in the final on merit.
"We must make count the fine form which we are in, but there are no favourites in the final. It is 50-50."
That "fine form" has seen Sevilla not only reach the brink of their first European trophy but claim their highest ever points tally in Spain's Primera Liga.
Saturday's 2-0 win at Malaga was their 18th of the season and third on the spin since beating Schalke in the UEFA Cup semi-final last month.
They have 62 points with two games still to play and, unlike Boro, are already assured of European football next season.
Currently fifth in the standings, they could yet secure Spain's fourth Champions League spot if they win their final two games of the campaign against Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But before that is the small matter of ending a silverware famine that goes back 58 years.
The prospect of success has created an almost unprecedented buzz in the region, which has never before had a side in a European final.
The usually restrained Del Nido could not contain himself when Antonio Puerta scored the extra-time winner to put Sevilla in the final and he admits he has not come down from cloud nine since.
He claims his body is not big enough to contain his joy and pride at the side's achievement, adding: "The Sevilla of my soul is going to contest a final of a European trophy in Eindhoven and unfortunately that does not happen every day."
He has urged his players to take the same enjoyment from the experience but insisted his hunger for European success would not be satisfied by only one trophy, telling the club's website, sevillafc.es: "Europe does not end here."
The president has also taken some of the pressure off his head coach Juande Ramos, by insisting he will be offered a new contract next season regardless of the outcome of the match.
Ramos was appointed on a one-year deal following the summer defection of Joaquin Caparros to Deportivo La Coruna and was initially told he would be retained if he led the club to a third straight season of European football.
But so pleased has Del Nido been with Sevilla's progress that he was always going to keep him on.
"In the contract that was signed, we established that if European qualification was obtained it would be renewed for another year," Del Nido said.
"I told him last month that it would continue one more season whether or not he obtained the qualification."
Ramos will take his entire squad to Eindhoven despite an injury doubt over Pablo Ruiz, who is struggling with a knee injury.
Frederic Kanoute played the final twenty minutes at Malaga on Saturday but the former West Ham and Tottenham striker may only be match-fit enough to start from the bench.
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