Jol happy in Hamburg, rejects City talk

Martin Jol insists he is concentrating on turning Hamburg into a top side despite growing talk of a switch to Manchester City, the Germans’ opponents in Thursday’s UEFA Cup quarter-finals return.

With a 3-1 lead from the first encounter Bundesliga title contenders Hamburg look favourites to reach the last four and former Spurs boss Jol is keen to extend his adventure in the stylish northern German city, even if media reports say he could replace Mark Hughes should the Welshman leave City in the summer.

Dutchman Jol dismisses the idea.

“The name Jol gets bandied about at every English club which happens to have a problem with its coach. It really gets on my nerves. But I’m not thinking about it (leaving Hamburg) in the slightest,” he insisted.

“I am at a great club with great fans with a great environment, the likes of which few clubs can boast in Europe.

“I am very happy here,” he told Bild newspaper.

“Working conditions are great – Hamburg are a club steeped in tradition such as only three or four clubs are in England.”

Jol has a contract until the end of next season and while he has not yet talked about an extension he admits that “I can imagine working here for a lot longer yet.”

The board are hoping to take Kevin Keegan’s former club – they won the Bundesliga with Keegan on board, then lifted the European Cup in 1983 after he had left – to the next level.

“They want to take the next step, so I’ve read – and I’m curious to see what that entails,” said Jol.

While Hamburg seek to reestablish themselves as a major force in a European game which has seen England and Spain come to preeminence ahead of Italy while Germany has relatively faded into the background, City are likewise chasing the elite.

For all the talk of being the world’s richest club following last year’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, City have endured a mediocre English Premier League campaign and are set to finish in mid-table.

European success for the first time since a Cup Winners Cup win in 1970 might save Hughes’, though the injury loss of livewire forward Craig Bellamy is a blow.

Bellamy suffered a recurrence of a knee injury in the match in Germany while strike partner Benjani Mwaruwari is battling a thigh muscle strain and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has ankle trouble. But Brazilian Robinho, rested for a weekend loss against Fulham, will play.

“We’re hopeful that Shaun Wright-Phillips will be OK,” said Hughes, noting growing “tiredness” at this stage of the campaign.

While City bid to overturn a two-goal deficit Marseille must do the same as the former European champions take on Shakhtar Donetsk after losing 2-0 in Ukraine.

Marseille coach Eric Gerets says his side have a tough task ahead, though confidence is high after Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing of Grenoble which saw his men take pole position in the French league off Lyon.

“I make Shakhtar the favourites but the atmosphere of a full house at the Velodrome will impress them. We need a little miracle,” said Gerets, who knows the thin margin between success and failure after Marseille exited in last year’s round of 16 on away goals to eventual winners Zenit St Petersburg.

Dynamo Kiev, 15 points clear of Shakhtar at the top of their league, will target a Ukrainian double against French opposition despite the absence of key defenders Taras Mykhalik and Senegalese Pape Diakhate, as they try to finish the job against a Paris St-Germain side they held to a scoreless draw away.

Werder Bremen, who knocked out David Beckham’s AC Milan earlier in the tournament, like Hamburg have a 3-1 advantage in their pockets as they travel to Udine to face Italy’s Udinese.