Russian Premier League 2009 title challengers: CSKA

CSKA (Moscow)

CSKA, established in 1911, is one of the best football clubs in Russia. CSKA holds 3 Russian Premier League titles, 4 Russian Cups and 4 Russian Super Cups. The recent Super Cup has been already won with a new manager, Zico.

Manager

Zico was one of the best players in world football, now he is a prominent manager. Zico has already collected some trophies: Asian Cup (2004), Turkish Super League Championship (2007), Turkish Super Cup (2007), Uzbek Cup (2008), Uzbek Oliy League Championship (2008), Russian Super Cup (2009).

Zico was given a new nickname by Fenerbahçe fans: Kral Arthur (”King Arthur”).

In Russia CSKA is often called a “Brazilian” club, due to the impact and number of Brazilian players, Zico is obviously developing this image, though CSKA game doesn’t depend on Brazilian players now.

Star players

Igor Akinfeev is a masterful goalkeeper, who can influence the game and neutralize the rival’s attacking potential. He is a first choice goalkeeper both for the club and the country. Akinfeev became an international player at the age of 18, he is currently 23 years old. He is also the youngest goalkeeper in Russian football history, who has not conceded a goal for 100 games.

Sergei Ignashevich has won Russian Premier League title with two clubs, Lokomotiv (Moscow) and CSKA. He is the most important defensive player both in CSKA and in Russian national team.

Miloš Krasić, Serbian international, is CSKA key midfielder. Reportedly he has been targeted by a number of European top-clubs.

Yuriy Zhirkov plays on the left wing and manages to be both a key defending and a key attacking player. In Russian national team he plays as a left defender, while in CSKA his position is more offensive. Russian Football Union called Zhirkov the best Russian football player in 2008.

Vagner Love is Russian Premier League best striker, he has won 21 caps for Brazil. Since 2004 Vagner Love has scored 58 goals for CSKA and made 105 appearances.

Local talent

Georgi Shchennikov, 17 years old, made 13 appearances for CSKA, most of them in the current season. Shchennikov recalls that just recently he has been “delivering balls“ to Yuriy Zhirkov and Vagner Love. Georgi Shchennikov plays as a left full-back.

Strengths

Squad. CSKA has a fantastic squad, Igor Akinfeev, Yuriy Zhirkov and Vagner Love are the best players on their positions in Russian Premier League. CSKA with 25 players has enough depth in the squad to substitute any player in case of injury.

Ambition. CSKA last won Russian Premier League 3 years ago and the players are hungered for the title.

Weakness

Understanding. The players are yet to find understanding with the new manager and his ideas.

Estimates

CSKA has got enough power to win the title this season, if the manager and the squad find common ground and Zico unlocks the potential of his players, it will be hard for any rival to overcome CSKA.