Dzyuba, Lodygin, Danny on Zenit success
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Article summary
"Four wins, wow!" was Artem Dzyuba's response after his two goals set up a 2-0 win at Lyon that took Zenit through to the round of 16 with the sole remaining perfect record.
Article top media content
Article body
Zenit would not have been most people's prediction as the only team to win their first four UEFA Champions League group games this season, but it is the Russian club alone on 12 points, one of just three teams through so far along with Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The 2-0 victory at Lyon on Wednesday night booked Zenit's progress and left them six points clear in Group H. Artem Dzyuba, set up by Hulk for both Zenit's goals as has happened so often this season, led the celebrations.
"Everyone's cheering and dancing now in the dressing room," said Dzyuba. "We're all happy. Four wins, wow! I wouldn't believe it had one said it before. We were organised and had Hulk who returned and made both goals. He's just brilliant. He took on two or three players constantly and provided me with assists."
Dzyuba has four goals and an assist so far in the UEFA Champions League and has scored in all but one of Zenit's last nine competitive matches. But Lyon made them work. "We were solid both in defence and attack. OL are a pacy team, so we had a hard time against them, but that just makes this victory in France even more enjoyable."
Hulk was back in the squad having missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at Mordoviya – the only blank Dzyuba has experienced recently – but there was other important returnee for Zenit. Goalkeeper Yuri Lodygin had fallen out of favour with coach André Villas-Boas after a number of crucial mistakes, so a clean sheet at Stade de Gerland was more than welcome on his second game back.
"I wanted to keep them at bay, I won't deny it," said Lodygin, who had been sidelined for more than a month. "It was a tough game with lots of chances. I'm glad we didn't concede which is a result of a great display of all of us. The main thing is that we made it to the last 16, but we need to spend the rest of the games on a serious level trying to win."
Danny was another happy man in Lyon despite missing a number of chances. "I'm very glad. The team reacted well and performed well in defence and attack," said the Zenit captain. "Now we're celebrating our place in the knockout stage and we'll try to win the rest of the games. We want to use this emotional surge to keep on rolling."
