Lokomotiv Moscow’s Olga Smorodskaya upbeat over the start of Russian Premier League third round
After a general meeting with the Russian Premier League clubs, the Russian Football Union has decided to introduce a third round in the domestic Championship.
Lokomotiv Moscow president, Olga Smorodskaya, has revealed his satisfaction over the decision and admitted that it will only increase the level of Russian football.
Smorodskaya is of the opinion that RFU's decision to carry on the domestic championship will play a vital role in the performances of the Russian outfits in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
The club president went on to praise the head coach, Jose Couceiro, and admitted that the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 man deserves all the plaudits for his admiring role at the Moscow-based club.
Lokomotiv had been enjoying an unbeaten league run of twelve games following Couceiro's appointment before it came to end against Spartak Moscow. Smorodskaya revealed that the Russian outfit is expecting similar results from the
Portuguese national.
“We still need to get better, work harder and fight till the end. The Championship has become more exciting with the new calendar. It is clear that to be a very difficult struggle.” Lokomotiv Moscow president was quoted as saying.
He added: “We will fight on till the last match of the Championship. We're still in the Europa League and we have the least time to prepare before the matches. We are struggling with the circumstances.”
Lokomotiv have been drawn against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RSC-Anderlecht-c40394, Sturm Graz and AEK Athens in the group stage round of the Europa League. As things stand they are at the second spot on the group table.
The Red-Greens will play against Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg in the upcoming third round league encounters before taking on Austrian club in the European group stage tie.
Smorodskaya went on to accept that it would be very difficult for them to catch up with the league leaders, Zenit St. Petersburg, and the second-placed, CSKA Moscow, and highlighted their goal is to claim a place for European competitions
next season.
Lokomotiv are currently fifth on the league table and trail the third-placed Dynamo Moscow by two points.
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