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Torino coach Giampiero Ventura nostalgic of Europa League return

Torino are preparing for their first major European home game in over 20 years when they host Copenhagen in the Europa League on Thursday night with their coach Giampiero Ventura keen to underline how far they have come.

Ventura joined the Granata in the summer of 2011, taking over a club in Serie B despite scepticism about his appointment, to replace Franco Lerda after two disappointing years in the Italian second tier.

Just three years on, he has won them over and is bidding to do even better.

"I hope to be here also when we get to hear a different anthem prior to kick-off," he said at a news conference in Turin.

"When you hear the [Europa League] anthem before kick-off, it does make you think. We've not heard it for so long, so to hear it again now means we've achieved something.

"Who knows if in a few years we might be here hearing some other anthem."

Torino will be without the services of prolific duo Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci for their Europa League campaign following their summer moves to Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid respectively -- but it was two longer-serving members of the squad who Ventura decided to single out for praise.

"The players have got to feel proud of what they've done. I started out here with [Matteo] Darmian and [Kamil] Glik, and they are still here.

"We were playing on an artificial pitch in Castellammare di Stabia [against Juve Stabia in Serie B], and now we're here facing Copenhagen in the Europa League.

"Just look at Glik, for example. He could really do with a rest, but I can't deny him the opportunity of walking out at the Olimpico for the first game of the Europa League at home. He was there at Castellammare too."