This is The North East | Sport | Football

MIDDLESBROUGH'S players will fly to Romania this morning ahead of the biggest seven days in the club's 130-year history with midfielder Doriva claiming they are setting their sights on nothing less than a unique cup double.

Boro face Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final tomorrow night, before returning to England to face West Ham in the last four of the FA Cup on Sunday.

With the Riverside ready to host the return leg of the European fixture next Thursday, Steve McClaren's men could be in two finals by the time they resume their Premiership programme with a home game against Everton on April 29.

Despite the Teessiders appearing in both the FA and League Cup finals in 1997, the current campaign would be hailed as the most successful ever if they were to prove successful in this week's back-to-back semi-finals.

But, while Doriva accepts that merely making a European final would be an exceptional achievement for a club of Middlesbrough's size, the Brazilian midfielder insists that a success against Steaua would count for nothing unless it preceded a victory in Eindhoven's Philips Stadium.

And, similarly, a win over West Ham would not be worth celebrating unless it was accompanied by a triumph in the FA Cup final.

"At this stage, we need to go on and win a trophy," said Doriva, who impressed as Boro warmed up for this week's dates with destiny by beating West Ham in the league on Monday. "We need to be at our best on Thursday, Sunday and then Thursday again because it will be tough in all of those games.

"If we can play in the UEFA Cup final and the FA Cup final, that will be enormous for the club. But we want to continue and it will only really count if we go on to actually win something.

"It would be fantastic if this club could win the UEFA Cup and FA Cup and, with this squad of players, I don't see any reason why we can't do exactly that.

"To win both will be extremely difficult, but it's definitely possible and it's what we should be trying to do.

"If we won either of them, it would be the proudest moment of the club's history. If we won both, it would be an achievement beyond compare."

First, though, Boro must overcome a Steaua side who have had the luxury of a free week in which to prepare for tomorrow's first leg.

The Romanians, who have lost just twice in their domestic league all season, obtained permission to postpone their match against FCM Bacau and have spent the weekend resting weary limbs.

"It was fantastic not to have to play," said coach Cosmin Olaroiu. "The players were very tired after so many matches and that's why they needed to forget about football for a while."

The contrast with Middlesbrough is stark. While McClaren has repeatedly shuffled his pack in recent weeks, seven players, including the likes of Stuart Parnaby, Chris Riggott, George Boateng, Fabio Rochemback and Stewart Downing, have played 180 minutes of football since tomorrow's opponents last kicked a ball.

The risk of burn-out is great, although the depth of the current squad is tempering the negative effect of playing so many games in such a short space of time.

At the start of the season, McClaren's rotation policy was deemed unnecessary by the likes of Hasselbaink and Viduka. Now it is viewed as an essential part of Middlesbrough's success.

"Everybody knows the reality of the situation," said Doriva, who has suffered more than most from his manager's willingness to chop and change his personnel. "It's good that the whole squad has the attitude that if they are called upon after they have not been playing for a while, they will come in and do their best.

"There is a tremendous winning mentality throughout the squad. That will be good for us in the next few matches.

"I will be ready if I am called upon, as I always am, and so will everybody else. We all have to work hard every day to work ourselves into the selection thoughts of the manager."

* FA Cup semi-final tickets will go on general sale to supporters included on the club's database at the Riverside's West Stand ticket office from 9.30am tomorrow.

The Boro database includes all supporters who have purchased a ticket over the last three seasons and includes season ticket holders, who now have the opportunity to purchase further tickets.

Each applicant can buy either a maximum of two �45 tickets or a maximum of two �25 adult tickets and six �12.50 Under-16 tickets for Villa Park's family area.

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