Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp threw his UEFA Cup troops into the freezing cold Atlantic after they sweated to avoid an early exit but now must raise them again for a third game in eight days at home to Premier League new boys Stoke.
Redknapp, who insists performances in the Premier League are still his number one priority, knows Pompey cannot afford another humiliating defeat so soon after the thrashings by Manchester City (6-0) and Chelsea (4-0 in the Carling Cup).
But he wonders just how much more his tight squad can take - and how much more there is for them in Europe after coming from 2-0 down on Thursday night to beat Vitoria Guimaraes 4-2 on aggregate with a couple of Peter Crouch goals in extra-time.
He said: "It was past midnight by the time we finished and now we are going to have to play really well to beat Stoke a couple of days later.
"Look how they held Liverpool at Anfield the other week. They are a very, very fit and physical side and will be smiling after watching us play extra-time in Portugal."
Redknapp locks horns with Stoke's former Pompey manager Tony Pulis and his team come up against former Fratton Park favourites Andy Griffin and Ricardo Fuller.
Redknapp also had long-throw expert Rory Delap under his wing during his time at Southampton, and said: "We know all about them but it doesn't mean they are easy to take on - far from it. Fuller is a top striker, hard as iron and a handful for anyone.
"And my players are knackered. Three games in eight days, Sunday-Thursday-Sunday. It is going to become a regular event now we are through to the second round in the UEFA Cup with a guarantee of at least four more games in the group stage.
"But this competition can drain your squad if it is a not a very big one - and we've got a few knocks.
"We delayed our flight from Portugal on Friday so we could get the players on the beach and into the cold sea to get the lactic acid out of their limbs.
"What concerns me is how we get people like Sol Campbell up for another game. He's 34, a big lad who needs his rest and he's been terrific for us but a run of games is a tough ask.
"I see the Portuguese league put Vitoria's game back to Monday night to help them in Europe. Maybe we could think of something like that in this country?"
Pompey will be without £5.5million French midfield star Lassana Diarra against Stoke as he serves a one-match ban for his two yellow cards against Tottenham last week.
Diarra was lucky not to make it two reds in a row when the Turkish referee missed his retaliatory kick at Vitoria's Brazilian defender Andrezinho in the first half of extra-time.
Vitoria coach Manuel Cajuda fumed: "It was definitely a sending-off offence - and would probably have changed the game."
Sean Davis is set to take Diarra's playmaker role against Stoke despite a poor comeback performance in Portugal, where he was hauled off in the 73rd minute with Pompey 2-0 down on the night.
He said: "The boys showed a lot of character to come back and get the result. But we've put that away and forgotten it now because we've got to get our focus back on the league."
ends
But he wonders just how much more his tight squad can take - and how much more there is for them in Europe after coming from 2-0 down on Thursday night to beat Vitoria Guimaraes 4-2 on aggregate with a couple of Peter Crouch goals in extra-time.
He said: "It was past midnight by the time we finished and now we are going to have to play really well to beat Stoke a couple of days later.
"Look how they held Liverpool at Anfield the other week. They are a very, very fit and physical side and will be smiling after watching us play extra-time in Portugal."
Redknapp locks horns with Stoke's former Pompey manager Tony Pulis and his team come up against former Fratton Park favourites Andy Griffin and Ricardo Fuller.
Redknapp also had long-throw expert Rory Delap under his wing during his time at Southampton, and said: "We know all about them but it doesn't mean they are easy to take on - far from it. Fuller is a top striker, hard as iron and a handful for anyone.
"And my players are knackered. Three games in eight days, Sunday-Thursday-Sunday. It is going to become a regular event now we are through to the second round in the UEFA Cup with a guarantee of at least four more games in the group stage.
"But this competition can drain your squad if it is a not a very big one - and we've got a few knocks.
"We delayed our flight from Portugal on Friday so we could get the players on the beach and into the cold sea to get the lactic acid out of their limbs.
"What concerns me is how we get people like Sol Campbell up for another game. He's 34, a big lad who needs his rest and he's been terrific for us but a run of games is a tough ask.
"I see the Portuguese league put Vitoria's game back to Monday night to help them in Europe. Maybe we could think of something like that in this country?"
Pompey will be without £5.5million French midfield star Lassana Diarra against Stoke as he serves a one-match ban for his two yellow cards against Tottenham last week.
Diarra was lucky not to make it two reds in a row when the Turkish referee missed his retaliatory kick at Vitoria's Brazilian defender Andrezinho in the first half of extra-time.
Vitoria coach Manuel Cajuda fumed: "It was definitely a sending-off offence - and would probably have changed the game."
Sean Davis is set to take Diarra's playmaker role against Stoke despite a poor comeback performance in Portugal, where he was hauled off in the 73rd minute with Pompey 2-0 down on the night.
He said: "The boys showed a lot of character to come back and get the result. But we've put that away and forgotten it now because we've got to get our focus back on the league."
ends
Copyright (c) Press Association
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