- Title: CSKA Moscow and Tottenham Hotspur prepare for Champions League meeting
- Date: 26th September 2016
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) CSKA MOSCOW COACH, LEONID SLUTSKY, AND DEFENDER, VASILI BEREZUTSKI, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CSKA MOSCOW DEFENDER, VASILI BEREZUTSKI, SAYING: "Of course, the loss of (Harry) Kane for Tottenham is a great one, but one cannot probably say that it is good for us, because Tottenham is a very good and strong team which still has players who know how to score and play soccer at a very good level, because the team is near the top of the English Premier League." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CSKA MOSCOW COACH, LEONID SLUTSKY, SAYING: "We watched all recent Tottenham matches. Of course during preparations we use more what we've seen in the games played closer to our match, it is connected also with injuries which one or another player gets. But of course it is one of the best teams in England, and that means it is one of the best teams in the world. Therefore last year and more so this season I watched nearly all Tottenham matches." VARIOUS OF CSKA PLAYERS TRAINING AT STADIUM SLUTSKY TALKING TO PLAYERS VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING SLUTSKY WALKING WIDE OF TRAINING TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, AND DEFENDER, TOBY ALDERWEIRELD, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "We need to improve our performance, we must win tomorrow, it is very important to get the three points. We know that it will be tough, very tough game. But in our mind is to get the three points." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "We are younger but in the end it is our will to compete. Tomorrow is a good opportunity to compete in a different way than how we compete in Monaco and Wembley. I don't believe that a lack of experience in that competition was why we lost the first game." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR COACHES WATCHING DEFENDER KYLE WALKER AND FORWARD SON HEUNG-MIN AT TRAINING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING GOALKEEPER HUGO LLORIS TRAINING TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING
- Embargoed: 11th October 2016 19:25
- Keywords: Soccer Champions League CSKA Tottenham Moscow
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001517EIIN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: CSKA Moscow and Tottenham Hotspur put the final touches on their preparations on Monday (September 26) as the two sides are set to meet in the Champions League on Tuesday (September 26).
Visitors Tottenham will be without their first choice striker Harry Kane who injured his ankle in their Premier League victory over Sunderland on September 18.
However CSKA defender Vasili Berezutski told reporters that he did not expect an easier night in spite of Kane's absence.
"Of course, the loss of (Harry) Kane for Tottenham is a great one, but one cannot probably say that it is good for us, because Tottenham is a very good and strong team which still has players who know how to score and play soccer at a very good level, because the team is near the top of the English Premier League," said Berezutski.
Spurs lost their Champions League opener against Monaco 2-1 at Wembley but have impressed in the Premier League of late with Saturday's (September 24) 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough moving them up to second place.
CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky said he had kept across Tottenham's recent performances.
"We watched all recent Tottenham matches. Of course during preparations we use more what we've seen in the games played closer to our match, it is connected also with injuries which one or another player gets. But of course it is one of the best teams in England, and that means it is one of the best teams in the world. Therefore last year and more so this season I watched nearly all Tottenham matches," said Slutsky.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was keen to get three points on the board after their disappointment against Monaco.
"We need to improve our performance, we must win tomorrow, it is very important to get the three points. We know that it will be tough, very tough game. But in our mind is to get the three points," said Pochettino, adding "We are younger but in the end it is our will to compete. Tomorrow is a good opportunity to compete in a different way than how we compete in Monaco and Wembley. I don't believe that a lack of experience in that competition was why we lost the first game."
His side will also be without Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele.
French international Sissoko was substituted during Tottenham's win over Middlesbrough, Rose suffered a hamstring injury on England duty this month, while Dier and Dembele left the field early during the 1-0 win against Sunderland.
Hosts CSKA came from two goals down to earn a deserved point with a 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League Group E opener earlier this month. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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