Thursday, February 19, 2009

HIDDINK ADDS DZAGOEV TO WISH LIST

Guus Hiddink has added another CSKA Moscow player to his Chelsea wish list - with Alan Dzagoev joining Yuri Zhikov as a major target.

The Dutchman, who took over the reins at Chelsea last week following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, knows both players well as they star for his Russian national team.

The 62-year-old has recommended that Chelsea snap up the pair before another suitors step in.

Midfielder Dzagoev, still only 18-years-old, wears the No10 shirt for CSKA and has already won two caps for Russia under Hiddink.

Zhikov is a highly rated left-sided player and was wanted by Juventus recently. But the 25-year-old remained in the Russian capital, although he is expected to move in the summer.

After last summer's Euro 2008 tournament Hiddink said of Zhikov: "He plays a very modern game - he's capable of covering all the left side of the pitch alone.

"A player can only do this if he has brilliant technical skills and physical condition. He's a top-class footballer."

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:30 pm | | Comments

WE ARE NOT SCARED OF VILLA - ZHIRKOV

Yuri Zhirkov, CSKA Moscow's coveted playmaker, has claimed the Russian side are not afraid of Premier League high-fliers Aston Villa, who many are backing to win the UEFA Cup.

Left-footer Zhirkov, who was wanted by Juventus in the recent transfer window, believes that if CSKA are going to win the UEFA Cup then it makes little difference whether they face Villa now, in the last 32, or later.

The 25-year-old Russian international, whose club became the first Russian side to win a European trophy when they took home the UEFA Cup in 2005, said: "Aston Villa are a good team with strong players - I know almost all of them, since they are so well-known.

"Why should we be afraid of them? If you are frightened, you lose the match far before the first whistle.

"I don't care at all which team are our opponents in the UEFA Cup. CSKA set the highest goals in all competitions, which means we must be ready to fight any team.

"If we have been pitted against one of the UEFA Cup favourites now, it means that we should defeat them now. I am sure that we will try our hardest to knock out Aston Villa."

For CSKA, Wednesday's clash at Villa Park will be their first competitive game since their domestic season ended before the winter - something that Zhirkov is relieved about.

He said: "I am looking forward to the first official match of the season, because it will mark the end of our pre-season preparations. This year I was tired of our training since the first day, because I couldn't spend any time with my wife and my little son.

"But I am professional and I feel that we have a good team that is capable of achieving great success."

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:23 pm | | Comments

VAGNER FEELING THE LOVE FOR VILLA

CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love says Aston Villa have been a "revelation" this season as he prepares to face Martin O'Neill's men in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday.

The Brazilian striker hopes CSKA can emulate rivals Zenit St Petersburg, who won the UEFA Cup last year.

But he admits that Villa's form so far this season makes them a difficult proposition in the last 32 clash.

"The match against Aston Villa is not easy," said Love, who has won 21 caps for Brazil. "They are the revelation of this season's Premier League.

"This round of the UEFA Cup will be hard for us against Villa, but I am optimistic and believe that the second leg in Moscow will be very important for us.

"We have a great team at CSKA and we dream of winning the UEFA Cup this year - that is our goal."

CSKA are about to start their domestic season after a long winter break. But Love believes that they will be sharp and ready for their game against Villa, who are third in the Premier League.

"I do not think the break in the winter affect us too much," he continued. "This team is very professional and has responded positively when we have had to play early in the season in previous years.

"The key for us is to score at least one goal in Birmingham."

And Love, who almost moved to Tottenham in the January transfer window, has said that he in not interested in putting himself in the shop window for the summer by playing well against Premier League opposition.

He added: "I have nothing to prove in this round. It is true that there have been rumours about English clubs being interested in me, but I am in Moscow at the moment."

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:22 pm | | Comments

TOTTENHAM CLOSE TO LOVE

Tottenham sent CSKA Moscow's Brazilian striker Vagner Love a Valentine's Card - but no present, so he did not move in the January transfer window.

The striker, 24, has over 20 caps for Brazil, and was interested in a move to the Premier League.

However, Tottenham's bid fell short of CSKA's valuation of the player.

Love said: "Tottenham were very interested in me. I received an offer from the club and went to the president of CSKA (Yevgeny Giner) to ask to leave.

"But he decided that the conditions Spurs offered to CSKA didn't meet his expectations.

"He reminded me that I have a contract with CSKA. I will continue playing for the Russian side, but someday I hope I will go to one of the big clubs in Europe."

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:18 pm | | Comments