Sneijder injury scare for Mourinho’s Inter in Russia
The Nerazzurri hold a 1-0 advantage thanks to Diego Milito’s second-half strike at the San Siro last Wednesday, but suffered a blow yesterday when Sneijder limped out of training at the Luzhniki Stadium with a right ankle problem.
The Holland international had been a doubt for Saturday’s Serie A encounter against Bologna but appeared from the bench for the last 20 minutes of the 3-0 win and looked to have come through unscathed.
However, he had to be helped from the pitch during a practice game yesterday afternoon after a collision with team-mate Sulley Muntari and now looks a doubtful starter.
“Sneijder has a problem. We will wait and hope,” said Mourinho. “The 1-0 result leaves the tie open,” the Portuguese told Sky Italia. “If we do not concede a goal we are in the semis.
“If we score a goal we have an even better chance of being in the semi-finals, but if they score first it will become very difficult. But football is not made of ‘ifs’. Unfortunately for us, although we played very well in the first leg, we scored just one goal. I feel confident, especially given the way in which we won the first leg and how we have played in recent Champions League games.”
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar and centre-back Ivan Cordoba are slight doubts after sustaining minor knocks during Saturday’s win over Bologna. The pair have been included in Mourinho’s travelling party but will face late fitness tests to determine their availability.
CSKA will be vying to become the first Russian team to reach the semi-finals of the competition in the Champions League era. Spartak Moscow were the last side from their country to reach the last four, in 1991, back in the European Cup days.
Coach Leonid Slutsky knows his CSKA team must be on the front foot if they are to advance, but accepts another Inter goal would leave his side with a mountain to climb.
“Obviously we have to score and to do so we must be more aggressive going forward,” he said. “But we can not forget about defending because if we concede again our task will become virtually impossible.”
He added: “The most important thing is the result. If we qualify without playing spectacular football, I am sure everyone will be happy.”
Slutsky will be without midfield duo Evgeni Aldonin and Milos Krasic through suspension, but is optimistic his side will cope.
He said: “It’s always tough when you lose two players, but we have more than 11 components. We must change the initial XI but I hope that the quality of our game will remain intact.”
Probable Teams CKSA (4-2-3-1): Akinfeev; A. Berezutsky, V. Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Schennikov; Semberas, Rahimic; Dzagoev, Honda, Gonzalez; Necid
INTER (4-2-1-3): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso; Sneijder; Balotelli, Milito, Eto’o
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
