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Other Football

Jorge Fossati considers Liga Deportiva Universitaria's experience will be the key to beat Fluminense in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana finals.

Eight players of the current Liga squad played in the three international club finals last season, the 2008 Copa Libertadores, 2008 FIFA Club World Cup and 2009 Recopa Sudamericana.

They are striker Claudio Bieler, goalkeeper Jose Cevallos, defenders Norberto Araujo, Renan Calle and Jairo Campos and midfielders William Araujo, Pedro Larrea and Enrique Vera.

Vera is the only one to miss tomorrow's game due to a broken toe and Fossati wants his players to use their experience.

"This team has experienced players. Not only 11, but 30. There is a huge squad with a lot of people who know how to play a final," Fossati said.

"Even though this final will be different because I don't have all the players I had last year, the players' experience is always useful because they know what to win in Brazil means."

Liga made it into the finals by hammering Uruguay's River Plate 8-2 on aggregate, while Fluminense saw off Paraguayan giants Cerro Porteno 3-1.

Campos is a doubt for the first leg with a muscle injury and faces a late fitness test to see if he can play at the Estadio Casa Blanca.

Campos expects to play and believes the tie will be different to the 2008 Libertadores finals.

"It is a coincidence. We have changed players, the teams are different. The tie will be tough and even," he said.

Fluminense are fighting against relegation in the Brazilian league with only two rounds to go, but coach Cuca is sure they can excel on both fronts.

"If you ask the Fluminense fans whether they want the team not to go to Quito and stay resting ahead of the Vitoria (league) game, they will say no. They want to be champions and we'll take the risk," said Cuca, who will do without injured duo Digao and Maicon.

"We played a tense tie against Cerro Porteno. We did not sleep well and then we played Sport. We are going to Sao Paulo and then to Quito, with a time change.

"We play a final, then we go back to play Vitoria. Fans should be proud of this team. Only we know what we are going through for clinching both goals."

Physical trainer Ronaldo Torres is sure that playing almost 3,000 metres above sea level will not affect the Fluminense players.

"Quito is not that high," he said. "It is different to Cusco (in Peru which is 3,400m above sea level). That is terrible. Physically, all the players are perfect.

"Altitude has its psychological side. Obviously, it interferes in the ball speed and getting used to it."

The second leg of the final will be played in Rio de Janeiro on December 2.