You last played CSKA only a month and a half ago. How have both teams changed over this period? Has the balance of power changed?
It is difficult to say about the changes, but there have been some of course. We have a number of players who didn't play in the previous match. Plus, the first games of the season are always different as the teams aren’t in their full, ready-state, but now both teams are more or less at full speed and I think both teams are in a better state than in that first match.
Mario Fernandes will be playing his previous club and is being looked at a lot before the match. Have you talked to him personally about the game with CSKA?
No. Mario is super professional, he always does his job perfectly well and sets an example of for all the guys. A players first game against their former team is always a little exciting, but I think that, like in the first match, he will play to his best.
You played away in the Cup midweek, and are away this weekend in the Premier League, does this give you time to recover? Especially for your first starting XI.
This is the most difficult time for us, at least at the moment until the September international break. There are a lot of away matches, away matches with our league rivals, cup games in the middle of the week: out of three games ahead, two are away. The fixture list is not easy, and it is very important for us to get through this time with minimal defeats. A number of players are back and other are out due to injury, so this is a difficult time for us. Our job is to make the most of what we can, get a good result and approach the international break in a positive mood.
CSKA have had some mixed results at the start of this season. What are you expecting from them?
Stability is the word that is almost always used to describe CSKA, although it doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s the same for all teams, no one can always be consistent and always get the result they want, that’s absolutely normal.
You have some difficulties in defence at Zenit, are there any positive changes?
Yes we have, I think we’ll be joined by a number of players compared to the cup match, Du Queiroz, Barrios, Erakovic and Mostovoy, four players, will all be available and this is good for us.
Igor Akinfeev is available again at CSKA and this is good news for them on the eve of the match with Zenit?
Undoubtedly. Igor is a legend of Russian football and the core of their club. He is a very important player in terms of playing and leadership qualities. His return is a huge plus for the team.
Today is the first of September when the kids return to school. Do you have a message for the children returning to school today?
There are no first-graders in my family, all of my kids are already old enough. It can be a bit stressful for them, the beginning of the school year, and it can be a little relief after a fairly long summer holidays for the parents. I want to wish parents patience, and to the children, to do what they have to do, to have diligence and success in their studies.
