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ZHIRKOV: WANT TO PLAY THIS SATURDAY
Probably the main question prior to the World
Cup-2010 play-offs clash Russia vs. Slovenia is how well one of the leaders
of the Russian team Yuriy Zhirkov is prepared to this match.
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Yuriy Zhirkov Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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"Actually the condition of my knees is well enough,"
started Zhirkov with the most disturbing question. "Before going
to the national team I spent two comprehensive training sessions with
Chelsea without any difficulty."
"But after the yesterday's training in Luzhniki my knees started
nagging again. Maybe it is the reaction to the artificial turf - but the
reason for this pain is unclear yet."
"On Tuesday I underwent all necessary routines and now we will see
how my knees will feel."
"The thing is that both my knees hurt. Though the left one have caused
me no problems for a long time."
"Today's and tomorrow's trainings [the interview took place on Wednesday]
will show whether I can participate in the weekend's match."
"I hope everything will be ok but if my knees prevent me from working
in full force I doubt the coaches will prefer me to healthy players."
"I want to play in Luzhniki very much. Every player capped for the
national squad wants it. But the coaching staff always count on those
better prepared at the moment for not the squad itself but the result
is important."
"The English doctors see my problems as a reaction of the body to
drastic changes - in the climate, lifestyle, training work and in everything
else."
"And no one can tell me what are the medical predictions of my rehabilitation."
"The British physicians even consulted with German specialists regarding
me. They sent them my x-rays together with the detailed description of
the malady but as far as I understand they failed to diagnose the case."
"I try to remain optimistic: such difficulties did many players have.
I am not the first, not the last."
"It is a pity that the problems coincided with my move to a new club.
But if I keep being distressed the situation will not change. I must work
and believe that everything is going to straighten out soon."
"As for football it is difficult to adapt to the new conditions in
my situation in all other aspects I experience no trouble."
"There is a paradox in the situation: when I was moving to England
I worried more about the change of everyday life and it turned out that
my main problems occurred in the football area."
"In Chelsea the team is very good, all of them understand my situation.
My case is not the first one, many newcomers of Chelsea were sidelined
in the first months in the club."
"But personally I got tired of the inactivity. I want to train and
play football. I think it is time I started using Gazzaev's method - overcoming
problems through work on the pitch. I should train on the field paying
no attention to the remaining pains."
Sport
Express Daily, 12 Nov 2009
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