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ADVOCAAT: ARSHAVIN DESERVES MORE
Prior to the last match of the year 2008 head coach of Zenit Dick Advocaat
summed up the results of the year.
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Dick Advocaat (L) and Juande Ramos Photo
REUTERS
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"In general I think that our season turned well,"
said the Dutch specialist. "Of course the result in the Russian championship
disappointed us as Zenit must have been one of the leaders of the Premier
League."
"But we stirred Europe having won two prestigious trophies in a row.
And not all great European clubs managed to do this."
"Those people who thought that it would be easy for Zenit to get
through in the Champions League group stage were deluded. Let's face the
truth: if we compare the teams of our group according to all parameters
than Juventus and Real are stronger clubs than Zenit."
"I agree that in football you can always hope that your team would
manage to play wonderfully and snatch points from the grand teams. Moreover
Zenit showed it not once this year."
"I can give a demonstrative example how these clubs are different
from Zenit. Some players of my club are dreaming about another team from
July while in Madrid or Turin no one is going to leave. And there are
no such attitudes as in Zenit since summer."
"A Juventus player thinks of how he can secure himself a place in
the squad and not lose his place: no one wants to leave the club."
"But I understand those willing to leave Russia. As practice shows
for many Russian players money is not primary and they are ready to leave
for strong European championships even suffering losses in salaries. And
everything because the football atmosphere there is better."
"But still I am happy that there are lots of people in the club willing
to stay."
"I am sure that the atmosphere in the Russian football depends on
RFU. They should not be afraid to apply measures to those clubs that do
not comply with the demands. If a club does not match up then let it play
in lower Divisions. And to get to the Premier League it should develop
its infrastructure."
"For me it is important to have players of the highest level in the
team with whom I can reach big goals. And I have no claims to the club
in it, that was one of the main reasons why I stayed in Zenit."
"In the summer when we buying Danny we thought that Andrei [Arshavin]
would leave the club. That is why we spent such a sum. So now in winter
we won't search anybody to replace him, as we have Fayzulin and Dominguez
who I hope will be key players of the next season, and Danny will play
the role of Andrei."
"I think Arshavin will leave. I sincerely hope that his transfer
to a European club will take place. He is a fantastic player that can
play in any team. I watched him in the last several days [the interview
took place a day before the final match against Real Madrid] and he did
his best on the training sessions. He seemed to feel that these are his
last days in Zenit. As the coach of Zenit I would prefer Arshavin to stay
but as a human I understand that he deserved more."
Sport
Express Daily, 11 Dec 2008
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