INTER? MANCHESTER? BARCELONA?

The head coach and players of CSKA spoke who and why they wanted to play in the Champions League quarterfinals.


Leonid Slutsky, head coach: "It would be unfair if I say that I do not care with whom to play in the Champions League. But most of all I do not want to get Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter as rivals."

"Probably if you ask any of our possible opponents who they want to play on this stage the answer would be one – CSKA. And it is quite easy to understand – Bordeaux, Lyon, Arsenal and Bayern are all recognized top teams. But to my mind the three mentioned undesirable clubs have an advantage in level."

Igor Akinfeev, goalkeeper: "Actually it does not matter to me what team to play. And I do not think it is wise to try guessing for we will know soon enough."

Evgeniy Aldonin, midfielder: "Choice on this stage of the competition is rather relative – only most serious teams are left. In this situation it does not matter who will you get."

"In terms of the tournament competition French clubs seems to be more favourable but look: Lyon has just kicked out Real Madrid of the competition and Bordeaux outplayed Bayern and Juventus to occupy the first place in the group showing great powerful football."

"So you can choose as much as you please but you will not get any advantage. The only thing I do not want on this stage already is to oppose Barcelona. This team is really stunning now especially at home. And the physical form of Messi impresses a lot."

Vasiliy Berezutsky, defender: "We are to play in Italy! Milos Krasic and I have said it together without previous arrangements while on the plane from Seville. And if an idea occurs in two heads simultaneously that means it is correct."

"But no matter what the results of the draw will be we will fight with any opponent. Moreover by the end of March – beginning of April the form of CSKA will improve – at the moment we are only acquiring it. On the contrary all the opponents have their championships drawing to a close. So we will definitely have some chances and we just need to grab them."

Alexey Berezutsky, defender: "The choice in the quarterfinals is quite conventional because there are no weak opponents. But I want to have a club with a name. And the greater the name the better."

Mark Gonzalez, midfielder: "Had I a choice to pick up our challenger I would prefer Manchester United. It turned so that when CSKA was playing this team in the group stage I was injured and could not take part in either of two matches. And for me, as a former player of Liverpool, it is very important to compete with the current English champion."

Milos Krasic, midfielder: "You cannot find a weak opponent in the Champions League quarterfinals – and it is quite obvious. So it is useless to choose anybody. But I have a feeling that the draw will bring us together with the Italian champions. Internazionale is a very strong club and it will be interesting to play against them."

Tomas Necid, forward: "I would prefer Barcelona – I have always wanted to play at the Camp Nou stadium. And actually the stronger the rival the more interesting it is."

Keisuke Honda, midfielder: Actually I do not care whom to play in the Round of 8. First of all because everybody there are strong, and secondly my favourite club – Real Madrid has already stumbled out of the competition. It would have been very attractive to play with them."

"But this way or other I am sure that CSKA will improve by the quarterfinals and we will be able to compete with any team."

Deividas Semberas, midfielder: "There is no much difference: no clubs are easy. And it is not a good thing to choose one’s opponent. For example Sevilla said to be happy when the draw brought it together with CSKA. And where is Sevilla now?"