MOSCOW, Sept 14 - After coming up just short of
reaching the Champions League knockout round on two previous
occasions, CSKA Moscow hope to finally make their breakthrough
this season.
The Russian champions missed a coveted place in the last 16
by finishing third in their group, both in 2004 and again last
season.
The 2004-05 campaign turned out to be a blessing in disguise
for CSKA as they went on to claim the UEFA Cup in May 2005,
becoming the first Russian club to win a European trophy.
CSKA president Yevgeny Giner hopes this year will be
different in the Champions League.
"Every time, we try to progress to the knockout round
without much luck but we'll keep on trying until we succeed,"
Giner told reporters following the group draw, which pitted his
club against Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahce.
"It's a pretty even group where every team has a chance. I'd
say that of all the 32 clubs in the Champions League this year
only one or two are clear outsiders," Giner said.
After a sluggish league campaign this season, which has left
CSKA with only a slim chance of keeping the title, another
failure to navigate the group stage of Europe's premier club
competition could cost coach Valery Gazzayev his job.
As in previous years, CSKA are heavily dependent on their
large Brazilian contingent, led by striker Vagner Love, Under-21
international Jo, durable midfielder Dudu and playmaker Daniel
Carvalho, voted the UEFA Cup MVP after setting up all three
goals in the 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the 2005 final.
"I felt that this year we have a much better chance to reach
the knockout round than in the past simply because we have more
Champions League experience," said Brazil international Love.
CSKA also hope for the quick return of their first choice
goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev, who has been sidelined since early
May after tearing ligaments in his left knee.