FRANCK QUEUDRUE feels playing for Middlesbrough in Eindhoven proves his gamble to leave former UEFA Cup semi-finalists RC Lens was well worth taking - even if tonight's showpiece has already left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The Frenchman has claimed the biggest occasion in his own career, and Middlesbrough's, has been blighted by the prospect of taking on Sevilla in front of just 9,200 official Boro supporters inside the PSV Stadion.

Queudrue has become so incensed by the whole ticket fiasco for the date in Holland that he is trying to compare the moment which spurred the Middlesbrough squad on to victory in the 2004 Carling Cup final - a lesser regarded competition. "It was unbelievable in Cardiff," said Queudrue.

"I remember going on the coach on the way to the stadium and the street was full of fans. The bus was in first gear and we had to go slow through all the fans. It was unbelievable and we all said 'we can't lose this game'. It deserves something like that for this.

"Instead we have to make sure for all of those people who couldn't get tickets, and are sat at home or in the pubs, that we put on a performance they can all be proud of. We have to make sure they have something to cheer.

"There is so much enthusiasm around the town and it hurts to know not everyone who wanted to be there will be there. Every single fan I have come across has come up to me and said 'come on Boro, come on Franck, make us proud'.

"That is why it is shocking that we get only 9,000 tickets. I can't understand why we play in a small stadium like Eindhoven when the Champions League final will be in the Stade de France with 90,000.

"We went to the Carling Cup final and we had 35,000 Middlesbrough fans. This is a much bigger tournament so why is that? It's really disappointing because this occasion will probably only happen once in my life and that's the black part of this thing."

Queudrue's appearance against Sevilla tonight will finally lay the ghost of 2000 to rest for him. He was part of the Lens team which was knocked out at the semi-final stage by Arsenal that year.

The Gunners eventually won 3-1, although they lost in the final to Galatasaray.

But Lens' progress to the last four was during a period when they were regular competitors on the Champions League scene, something Queudrue turned his back on to play in the Premiership with Middlesbrough.

After an initial loan spell in Steve McClaren's first season in charge he signed permanently for £2.5m the following summer.

"When I signed in the first year I must admit that I didn't think it would be possible for Middlesbrough to reach a European final," said the Parisien.

"But when you do well you attract better players and that's what happened here.

"We reached an FA Cup semi-final, we won the Carling Cup, played in Europe and now this season could finish in a really fantastic way.

"Every season we have made progress. We deserve to be in this situation now and we will be playing Sevilla."

He added: "At the time I was at Lens they were a bigger club. They were in the Champions League, won the French Cup and seemed to be in Europe every season.

"For me I like new challenges and I wanted to try a new country and a new club.

"You don't get a great club in a few days, you have to take steps and this club has taken many steps to get where it is today. We are half way there and if we won on Wednesday then we would have taken a further step."

The match-winner of the previous two rounds, Massimo Maccarone, has been a close friend of Queudrue's ever since the Italian joined in a club record deal back in the summer of 2002.

But since his much-publicised arrival he has struggled for form and has only made 45 league starts. So when Maccarone arrived from the bench to score last-gasp winners in both the quarter-final against Basle and the semi-final with Steaua Bucharest, Queudrue felt a huge amount of relief for the £8.15m man.

"He could not have chosen two bigger games than Basle and Steaua Bucharest to score the goals to make a name for himself," said Queudrue.

"He has always tried to keep his head up because he knows when he is called on he has to be ready.

"If he is given 20 minutes then he has to be ready to give the best 20 minutes of his life. He knows that.

"When he scored against Steaua he ran to the fans in the far corner, I was too tired to run over and join him. I waited for him to come back.

"When he is playing well he scores goals. His confidence is there when he scores one and he would probably score more but he doesn't play and his confidence is hit. Massimo needs to play to achieve.