Rousing reception for triumphant Zenit

Flight delayed
Having defeated Rangers FC 2-0 in Wednesday's final, the Russian champions were originally due to make their triumphant return at 17.00 local time, only to fall victim to congestion at Manchester Airport. Zenit eventually landed at Pulkovo airport two hours later than planned and travelled directly to the square bordering the Peterburgsky Sports and Concert Complex, where celebrations and live music had already started.

Heroes' welcome
It soon became clear that St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko had delivered on her promise that "the city will have a decent welcome for its heroes", with thousands of residents crowding into the square to catch a glimpse of the team and the trophy. Needing to shout to make himself heard, coach Dick Advocaat thanked the supporters for their backing throughout Zenit's European campaign. "We are especially proud of the St. Petersburg fans," he said. "You truly are the best. I hope that in the UEFA Champions League we will continue to say the same. Thank you all."

All-night party
The Dutch coach then gave way to a rousing rendition of Zenit's unofficial anthem, "The City Over the Free Neva", sung not only by the fans but also by coaching staff, club officials, players and even some of the 6,000 police officers present to maintain security. The players eventually made their way home at the end of the concert and fireworks display, but many supporters continued to celebrate through the night, congregating at another famous square, Dvortsovaya Ploshad, and several other popular sites across the city.

Reinforcements needed
Meanwhile Advocaat and club president Aleksandr Dyukov held a press conference. "We're facing our debut in the UEFA Champions League and we need to bring in reinforcements for such a serious competition," said the Dutchman. "That said, we're not going to buy players of the quality we already have. We want players who will make us stronger and bring something new." Advocaat also praised the Premier-Liga for rearranging two fixtures to help Zenit prepare for the final: "This was a serious bit of help. But had we lost in Manchester, the press would have remembered those postponements."

Presidential reception
"This year, we are competing in four tournaments – the Russian league and cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League, in which we want qualification from the group stage," added Dyukov. "Many Zenit players will also be travelling to the [UEFA] European Championship. It's hard to get through such a fixture list with our current squad, so we can't make do without reinforcements. During the break in league play, we'll be making efforts to increase the size and depth of our bench." On Friday, Zenit will be received by the new Russian president Dmitri Medvedev, who was among the first to congratulate the side.