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CSKA Moscow's Leonid Slutsky eyes Champions League last 16 clash with Real Madrid
The 40-year-old does not care who his side is drawn against but he does admit to having a slight preference for a meeting with the Spanish league leaders
Dec 8, 2011 11:43:00 AM
By Mark Doyle
CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky set his sights on a tie against Real Madrid after watching his side progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Inter on Wednesday night.
Vasili Berezutski popped up with an 87th-minute winner at San Siro to see the Russian side through as runners-up in Group B, with Lille and Trabzonspor having drawn 0-0 in France.
A delighted Slutsky admitted afterwards that he does not care who CSKA draw in last 16 but he does have a slight preference for a showdown with Jose Mourinho’s high-flying Madrid side.
"[The remaining sides] are all decent,” he pointed out to reporters. "I am not thinking about them at the moment, although I would not mind playing Real Madrid."
Slutsky’s more immediate concern, though, was hailing his side’s victory over Inter, with the coach quick to point out that Nerazzurri had fielded a strong starting lineup even though their status as group winners had already been confirmed.
“I don't want people to downgrade our victory,” he said. “For all the talk of Inter playing a weakened team, they had a pretty feisty lineup. We had the slight advantage in both halves and we regularly created chances, though Inter had their share too.”
CSKA ultimately finished on eight points in Group B, one ahead of Trabzonspor and two clear of Lille.
"I am happy that everything ended the way it did and that the other match brought the result that suited us," Slutsky said. "Of course, I hoped that we would beat Inter but I did not believe Lille would fail to win.”
Vasili Berezutski popped up with an 87th-minute winner at San Siro to see the Russian side through as runners-up in Group B, with Lille and Trabzonspor having drawn 0-0 in France.
A delighted Slutsky admitted afterwards that he does not care who CSKA draw in last 16 but he does have a slight preference for a showdown with Jose Mourinho’s high-flying Madrid side.
"[The remaining sides] are all decent,” he pointed out to reporters. "I am not thinking about them at the moment, although I would not mind playing Real Madrid."
Slutsky’s more immediate concern, though, was hailing his side’s victory over Inter, with the coach quick to point out that Nerazzurri had fielded a strong starting lineup even though their status as group winners had already been confirmed.
“I don't want people to downgrade our victory,” he said. “For all the talk of Inter playing a weakened team, they had a pretty feisty lineup. We had the slight advantage in both halves and we regularly created chances, though Inter had their share too.”
CSKA ultimately finished on eight points in Group B, one ahead of Trabzonspor and two clear of Lille.
"I am happy that everything ended the way it did and that the other match brought the result that suited us," Slutsky said. "Of course, I hoped that we would beat Inter but I did not believe Lille would fail to win.”
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