Luciano Spalletti tips Zenit St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow to progress: UEFA Champions League
Former AS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 coach and current Zenit St. Petersburg tactician, Luciano Spalletti, has indicated that Zenit and CSKA Moscow have a good chance of progressing from the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Zenit have been grouped with FC Apoel, Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Porto, while the Moscow-based club are drawn up against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Trabzonspor-c40759 in the round-of-32.
Spalletti believes that the Russian Premier League clubs have the potential to progress to the later stages of the Champions League but insisted that the clubs needs to play quality football in order to claim maximum points in their respective groups.
“I think both teams will go to the next stage, if they work hard and play quality football. No one can guarantee you unless you outplay the opponents and unless you are willing to give more than what you're capable of doing.” The Italian
national was quoted as saying.
The former Udinese coach confirmed that Zenit have a composition of 23 players and admitted that the Bomzhi players are good enough to cope up with pressure of the biggest European tournament.
The Russian Cup winner revealed that it is going to be difficult for the Meshki to occupy top spot in their respective group. The experienced head coach confirmed that he managed to collect team information about the Dragoes and found them a very strong
contender to lead the group. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 are the current UEFA Europa League champions.
The Coppa Italia winner admitted that Zenit are facing a tough schedule of games ahead. Zenit are going to face FK Rubin Kazan in their upcoming league tie after the Champions League clash, which will be their continuous third away game.
“We have a game at Cyprus and later in Kazan. To play in the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Russia-c2991 championship, our current level of play is enough but we need something more when we play in the Champions League. Those who think APOEL, as a weak team are wrong.” The 52-year-old concluded.
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