World News – US – Back in UEFA Champions League, Ferencvaros wants to revive history

Back in the Champions League after a 25-year gap, Ferencvros aims to relaunch his even longer European history against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

There was a time when the Hungarian champion beat Juventus in a European final and his star striker won the Ballon d’Or as the continent’s best player

When the club last reached a European final by knocking out Liverpool on their way to the 1974-75 Cup Winners’ Cup, they lost to Dynamo Kyiv, where Ferencvros current coach Serhiy Rebrov is known as one of his greatest

It is therefore fitting that on Tuesday Ferencvros returns to the Champions League for the first time since 1995, and after four qualifying rounds since mid-August, in a group with Juventus and Dynamo

The adventure begins in Barcelona for the Budapest team ranked No 118 in Europe by UEFA, the lowest of the 32 teams this season

We are very, very proud to reach this level, said Ferencvros general manager Pl Orosz in a telephone interview, suggesting that this was a classic club in the group stage. Europa (League)

We all wanted big names but it’s a bonus for us, said Orosz, whose father, also known as Pl, played in the 1965 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup title win over Juventus in Turin.

Ferencvros heads to Barcelona for bigger test The Hungarian league leader is undefeated in a season that started two months ago with a victory over Djurgrdens of Sweden in the Premier League qualifying round champions

Orosz acknowledges that there is a huge divide between his club, known affectionately to fans as Fradi, and the multinational brands Barcelona and Juventus

The entire Ferencvros squad is valued at less than € 25million ($ 29million) by a transfer review website equivalent to a few months’ wages for future opponents Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

This is our club We are a team, we are not individuals, said Orosz, indicating that a good scout is a reason not to fear wealthier rivals who are now trying to sign his players

Scorer for goals won in two Champions League qualifying rounds, Tokmac Nguen was recruited from Norway, where his family moved after being a refugee from South Sudan

Rebrov was a smart person too The former Tottenham forward only coached in Saudi Arabia after leaving Dynamo Kyiv, which he once led in the Champions League round of 16

He’s very serious, not that outgoing, Orosz said of the 46-year-old coach It’s a very, very good stage in his career He’s having a good time

Kubatov is a campaign strategist for the Fidesz party led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which ten years ago made public funding of sport and tax credits for companies to invest a priority

The plan was to restore the pride of Hungarian football: an era of the Mighty Magyars who reached the 1954 World Cup final with Ferenc Pusks and won the title at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964

The Dynamo Kyiv will be housed in its 22,000-seat house which opened in 2014 and hosted the 2019 Women’s Champions League final It was built on the site of a venue named in honor of the club icon Flrin Albert, who was voted winner of the Ballon d’Or as the best player in Europe in 1967

The new arena has changed the perception and behavior of the club, said Orosz, although the club will move to the national stadium for its marquee matches

Around 20,000 fans are expected to be allowed to attend the 67,000 Puskas Arena when Juventus visit on November 4 and Barcelona on Dec. 2

I think tickets will be sold out in a day, said Orosz Everyone has been waiting for a hit like this and games like this

UEFA Champions League, Ferencvárosi TC, FC Dynamo Kyiv, Juventus FC, Nemzeti Bajnokság I