Slutski: CSKA crisis not over with win

Leonid Slutski, CSKA coach
It was a really nervy match. It's obvious we're on a bad run, so we just had to win. The start was very frustrating but the lads deserve credit for managing to turn the game around in this situation, when all nerves and energy are gone. The match scenario was far from ideal for us, but we won and I'm delighted about that.

Today was not about Viktoria, it was all about us. I'm afraid we can't pass through the crisis in two or three days. We decided to put [Rasmus] Elm back in the team, but right now 70 minutes is a heroic stat from him, we were expecting a half. The break in the league comes just in time and we hope our injured players will return to full fitness. We'll fight and try to prove we're Russian champions for a reason.

A coach can probably always affect a game. I was trying, but it's really hard to affect ricochets and things like that. We let in a goal, Viktoria had two more chances, and only after that did we wake up and start to play well. The first goal brought us back to life, and the second did even more than that. But I can't say our life is great right now.

The ever-changing conditions, different pitches and the weather have not helped. Once again I want to say thanks for the excellent Zenit pitch, and this opportunity to play, and thanks to all the fans who came to watch, especially from Moscow on a weekday.

Everything will be clear after the two matches with Manchester City – if we are in top condition, anything is possible. If we are going to be in these conditions which we are experiencing now, the odds are long.

Pavel Vrba, Plzeň coach
We started well and had two or three chances to score, but we failed to take them. Then we conceded goals from situations which we had prepared for, because of mistakes with our passing. I must praise my players' efforts in the second half and for fighting until the end for a point, but we made it hard for ourselves. The situation we are in now is very difficult.

It is a pity we did not take advantage of the first 20 minutes. [Marek] Bakoš had a good opportunity to score a second goal. Then we made serious mistakes and CSKA utilised from their talented attacking players.

We still believed we could equalise, but there was a third CSKA goal in a situation which cannot be predicted. Our second goal came too late. Sadly our own mistakes brought about the result.