Domenico Criscito tips Zenit St. Petersburg to win against Shakhtar Donetsk: UEFA Champions League
Zenit St. Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito has reiterated his desire to win the upcoming crunch away match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stages of UEFA Champions League at Donbass Arena.
The former Juventus stopper is of the view that Zenit need to prove their metal against the Ukrainian Premier League champions.
Having lost the opening group stage clash against Apoel FC, Zenit recovered well from the defeat to thrash http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 3-1 at home. As things stand, Zenit are currently at the second spot on the group table in the Champions League.
Criscito admitted that the Shakhtar have improved a lot under the Romanian tactician, Mircea Lucescu, and insisted that the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan manager has enough experience playing in the Champions League.
Speaking on the Miners, he said:
“We are familiar with their strong team. They have a group comprised of Brazilian players and they play offensively.”
He added: “Ukrainian team coached by Romanian Mircea Lucescu is well known for his work in Serie A.”
Reports in Russian suggest that Zenit will be without their captain, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aleksandr-Kerzhakov-c4569, against the Ukraine-based club.
The former Genoa player is of the view that Zenit will not have any problem replacing the star striker and highlighted other attacking option in the squad. Criscito revealed that there would be plenty of action, despite the absence of the star duo.
“The next two games against this team could be decisive for us in the Champions League. So the motivation from both the teams will be the highest. Of course, we try to play as best as possible and try to get maximum points against the Ukrainian team.”Criscito
concluded.
In the latest round of Russian Premier League action, Zenit were held by Dynamo Moscow, as the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes of gruelling action.
The Italian national went onto highlight the threat posed by Dynamo strikers, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Kuranyi-c20736. Criscito explained that Zenit were pressurised by the pair and failed to take advantage of playing at home as a result.
Criscito urged his teammates to alter the situation and work harder in the remaining matches of the season.
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