Zico aims to deliver knockout blow

Four times previously Fenerbahçe SK have entered the UEFA Champions League group stage, and on each occasion that was as far as they got. But a home victory against an eliminated and depleted PFC CSKA Moskva side on Wednesday in Istanbul would change all that at the fifth attempt.

CSKA struggle
Sitting second in Group G, not least thanks to wins here against FC Internazionale Milano and PSV Eindhoven, Fenerbahçe know a repeat performance would secure the runners-up spot regardless of how the Dutch title-holders get on against already-qualified Inter. In theory, Fenerbahçe's task is made easier by the fact that CSKA come to Turkey with their squad down to the bare bones, having finished their domestic campaign a month ago and having been confirmed as the group's bottom team. But home coach Zico is not thinking that way. "In modern football, you can't think you have won the game before the match," he said, "especially before a Champions League game. They have nothing to play for but they are professionals. All professional footballers start with the desire to win. So we are not approaching this as an easy game."

Shared credit
Zico arrived in Istanbul for his first European coaching job in 2006, and having guided Fenerbahçe to the league title in his debut season, is now on the verge of taking a Turkish side past this round for the first time since 2001/02 – when Galatasaray AS reached the old second group stage. Yet the Brazilian, whose charges beat their arch-rivals 2-0 on Saturday to set themselves up nicely for this assignment, hands the credit to his players. "This is the work of the team," the 54-year-old said. "Fenerbahçe gave us this chance in the first place and it will be a success for the whole club. I am a Fenerbahçe employee. Everything we have done individually has been for the team and for the club. What is most important for me is to make the fans happy."

Absentees
While Zico is missing midfielders Tümer Metin, Stephen Appiah and Deniz Barış through injury, CSKA have much greater concerns. Not only are midfield duo Elvir Rahimić and Dudu suspended; a host of players are also unfit, not least talismanic Brazilian forwards Vágner Love and Jô who both left the CSKA training camp in Greece at the end of last week to join defender Vasili Berezutski and midfielders Daniel Carvalho and Miloš Krasić on the absentee list. Coach Valeri Gazzaev, whose club's next European fixture after Wednesday will be in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, has just 13 available outfield players including Turkish teenager Caner Erkin.

'Something to prove'
Gazzaev hopes the second-string players given a chance will shine. "We cannot go through but we are taking the game seriously," he said. "We will field reserves and young players who have something to prove." He has also dismissed rumours that some of the absences are due to high-profile stars being on the verge of leaving CSKA. "The media's job is to sensationalise," the coach explained. "But the reality is we have injury problems and suspended players." These could play into Fenerbahçe's hands.