David Jeffrey's team will host Rosenborg in the first leg

Linfield boss David Jeffrey knows his team will be massive underdogs against Rosenborg in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Blues will take on the Norwegian side over two legs next month.

"It's yet again the toughest draw we could have had but we will prepare as best as we can," said Jeffrey.

"We've had creditable results against top sides and the challenge is to turn in another top class performance and hopefully record a terrific result."

The sides met in the European Cup in 1986/7 with Rosenborg winning 2-1 on aggregate.

"In those days our game against Rosenborg was part-timers against part-timers although their version of what part-timers meant was entirely different to what our version was," Jeffrey told the club website.

"We were true part-timers whereas Rosenborg players got their jobs organised through their club and this meant they were able to work their training round this and train mornings and evenings.

"Look at the progress they have made since then. Back then we might not exactly have been equals but we were certainly able to compete against them.

"In recent times they have made it through to the group stages of the Champions league.

"Perhaps one of their most famous results was the draw at Stamford Bridge in what turned out to be the last game in charge of Chelsea of the great Jose Mourinho.

"I have looked enviously at how Scandinavian football has progressed in the past 20 years or so. They have been assisted by great commercial backing and also support from their national association."

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