Zenden Impressed by McClaren's Twente

Olympique de Marseille midfielder Boudewijn Zenden is relishing the visit of Dutch compatriots FC Twente and his former Middlesbrough FC manager Steve McClaren in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie.

Zenden impressed
Zenden played under McClaren between 2003 and 2005, while both he and Marseille coach Erik Gerets are well familiar with Twente from their respective times at PSV Eindhoven. Twente knocked Stade Rennais FC out of the UEFA Cup in the first round but lost 4-0 at Paris Saint-Germain FC in the group stage; nonetheless Zenden is impressed with how the Dutch club have maintained the momentum they had prior to Fred Rutten's summer departure as coach.

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McClaren reunion
"It was quite a shock to see the former England manager coming to Twente," Zenden told Marseille's website. "Everyone was wondering whether Twente could do better than last season. But they are an unsung team and can work calmly compared to others sides. I knew [McClaren] at Middlesbrough. I had good fun for two years at training and during the games. He managed to create a good atmosphere."

In form
Gerets's former UEFA Champions League contenders have won four of their last five Ligue 1 games, conceding only once, and Sunday's 1-0 win at AS Monaco FC left Marseille in third. Bakari Koné chipped the only goal on his return from a broken cheekbone while midfielder Lorik Cana and striker Mamadou Niang returned following injuries. However, centre-back Julien Rodriguez, only just back after recovering from an ankle problem, is doubtful with a knee blow and midfielder Karim Ziani is out with a groin injury.

Setback
McClaren's side are second in the Eredivisie, but the coach was dissatisfied by Saturday's 2-1 defeat of bottom side FC Volendam. "This was our worst match of the season," he said. "A lot of players played below their level and crossed the thin line between being confident and overconfident. We have done a lot to reach a certain level, but to maintain that is more difficult. We can do better and have to do better, because if we play against Marseille the way we did against Volendam, then we will have to start worrying." Right-back Ronnie Stam should recover from an ankle problem but Peter Wisgerhof, signed to replace AFC Ajax-bound defender Rob Wielaert, is ineligible, having already played in this season's UEFA Cup with NEC Nijmegen.

( Christian Châtelet & Berend Scholten / UEFA )