“I have confidence we will progress in both competitions and do the right thing,” he said. “If we cannot, everybody will say it’s a bad season. But all clubs have a bad season. We would have to then move forward and prepare for the future.

“We are already doing that, with young players coming in, and we will continue to do the same.

“I have to do the right things for the fans. But at the same time I have to do the right things inside the club for the people who make the decisions.

“Every club has a bad season at times, and you have to manage. You see clubs who haven’t won trophies in the last few years, and who haven’t won anything in the last 20 years.

“It’s a question to analyse carefully. We need to know what is going on, what the future will be and do the best for the club.”

Yossi Benayoun didn’t travel to France yesterday evening after being ruled out by the ankle injury he suffered during Monday’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan.

With Maxi Rodriguez ineligible, both Albert Riera and Ryan Babel are pressing for a first-team recall.

Daniel Agger, who suffered from sickness over the weekend, has recovered, while Glen Johnson could make his first start since December 29 after coming through a second-half substitute appearance at the DW Stadium.

TONIGHT’S officials are from Norway, with Claus-Bo Larsen the referee.