Jiminez raises the stakes

Posted Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by PA

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has described Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against CSKA Moscow as "a very important game for the club, the team, the city, Andalusia and Spain" as the Primera Division outfit look to break new ground.

Sevilla have enjoyed notable recent success in Europe, winning the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, but they have never reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League having been knocked out at the last-16 stage by Fenerbache in their only previous outing in 2008.

However, Sevilla have the chance to make history and hold a slight advantage following the first leg having drawn 1-1 in Russia. Alvaro Negredo put the Spanish side ahead before Mark Gonzalez's brilliant long-range strike drew CSKA level.

Jimenez said: "It could be one of the most important games of my life, but honestly, and this isn't a cliche, for me every game that my team plays is important.

"But clearly it's an historical moment. It's a very important game for the club, the team, the city, Andalusia and Spain. Right now we are representing in Europe Sevillian and Andalusian football.

"Therefore, ahead of such an important event we have to increase our efficiency to try and reach the quarter-finals and convert it into an historic fact for Sevilla and the whole city."

Sevilla go into the match having taken just two points from their three league games since the first leg, drawing at home to Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna and losing 3-2 away to Real Madrid.

Saturday's 1-1 draw against Depor was a frustrating result for a Sevilla side that dominated for the majority of the match, but with other results going their way, they remained in fourth spot in the Primera Division standings.

Asked whether he thought CSKA would seek to replicate Depor's tactics, Jimenez said: "I don`t know how they are going to plan for the game, but I know what we have to do and what our obligation is.

"If they are planning a similar game to what Deportivo did and we do better up front, I have no doubt that we will get a favourable result.

"Hopefully they will create as few chances as Depor did, but I'm aware that they are well-armed team and important in Europe."

Jimenez, who also dismissed any suggestion he side would look to play for a goalless draw, has decided to delay naming his squad for the encounter until Tuesday, although full-back Abdoulay Konko is out.

CSKA, who are also hoping to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time, were in the midst of their winter break when the first leg was played.

However, they now have two more competitive games under their belts following the resumption of the Russian league, losing 1-0 to reigning champions Rubin Kazan in the Super Cup and then beating Amkar Perm 1-0 in their opening Premier Liga outing on Friday night thanks to Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda's injury-time winner.

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky will be without Uros Cosic and Kiril Nababkin for the clash with Sevilla.