Date - Wednesday, September 27 2017
Kickoff Time - 1945 Hrs BST
Venue - VEB Arena, Khodynka Field, Moscow
Champions League form guide
Manchester United: W
CSKA Moscow: W
Previous Meetings
Manchester United 1-0 CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United 3-3 CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Manchester United
All-Time Record
Manchester United wins - 2
CSKA Moscow wins - 0
Draws - 2
Pre-Match Pressers
José Mourinho
Viktor Goncharenko
CSKA COACH: REDS AT THEIR BEST SINCE SIR ALEX
CSKA Moscow will face the best Manchester United team for at least four years, according to the Russian club's head coach, when the sides meet in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Viktor Goncharenko provided that assessment at Tuesday's pre-match press conference, where he was joined by one of his star players, midfielder Aleksandr Golovin.
"Since Sir Alex Ferguson left [in 2013], this current version of Manchester United is without any doubt, their strongest team," said Goncharenko.
"Sir Alex Ferguson created so many strong versions of Manchester United. We can compare it [the current side] with the 1999 version, the 2003 team... they have had a lot of great squads and great teams. The transfer policy that Manchester United is developing now is good and clear so they are making themselves stronger. In great clubs, it must be exactly like this."
Golovin was equally respectful of the Reds, when he was asked if there are any defenders he looks forward to pitting his attacking wits against.
"I wouldn't like to point out anyone personally because we all know that we are going to face a strong group of players," said the 21-year-old Russia international.
"We need to be as strong as possible in every part of the pitch. We need to be ready to encounter them in every area because they are so strong as a team."
CSKA's press conference followed United's media briefing, in which Jose Mourinho confirmed that three midfielders - Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba - have missed the trip. Not that Goncharenko is taking any encouragement from the absences, saying: "The characteristics of a great club is that if they lose some top players, they can compensate by bringing in other strong players.
"The players who come into the team, like [Ander] Herrera, may have different characteristics to the players who are missing, like Fellaini, but it doesn't mean that the level of the team's performance will be decreased. Maybe some things will change with respect to the set-pieces but we still won't find any weakness in our opponents there."
As for his own team's strengths, Goncharenko commented: "I have no doubts that we have a lot of experience and class. Our task is to find some weak points in the opposition and put pressure there.
"We know there will be a great atmosphere at our wonderful stadium and we will be well supported. Our team is going to be so hugely motivated and focused on the match.
"Despite having spoken a lot about the strong qualities of Manchester United, in any game against any opponent, we can change the course of the match.
"We have to keep looking for our chances and soon as our supporters are feeling that we are close to achieving a great performance and a great result, then I am sure that we can succeed a lot."
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...iews-champions-league-match-v-man-united.aspx
CSKA Moscow will face the best Manchester United team for at least four years, according to the Russian club's head coach, when the sides meet in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Viktor Goncharenko provided that assessment at Tuesday's pre-match press conference, where he was joined by one of his star players, midfielder Aleksandr Golovin.
"Since Sir Alex Ferguson left [in 2013], this current version of Manchester United is without any doubt, their strongest team," said Goncharenko.
"Sir Alex Ferguson created so many strong versions of Manchester United. We can compare it [the current side] with the 1999 version, the 2003 team... they have had a lot of great squads and great teams. The transfer policy that Manchester United is developing now is good and clear so they are making themselves stronger. In great clubs, it must be exactly like this."
Golovin was equally respectful of the Reds, when he was asked if there are any defenders he looks forward to pitting his attacking wits against.
"I wouldn't like to point out anyone personally because we all know that we are going to face a strong group of players," said the 21-year-old Russia international.
"We need to be as strong as possible in every part of the pitch. We need to be ready to encounter them in every area because they are so strong as a team."
CSKA's press conference followed United's media briefing, in which Jose Mourinho confirmed that three midfielders - Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba - have missed the trip. Not that Goncharenko is taking any encouragement from the absences, saying: "The characteristics of a great club is that if they lose some top players, they can compensate by bringing in other strong players.
"The players who come into the team, like [Ander] Herrera, may have different characteristics to the players who are missing, like Fellaini, but it doesn't mean that the level of the team's performance will be decreased. Maybe some things will change with respect to the set-pieces but we still won't find any weakness in our opponents there."
As for his own team's strengths, Goncharenko commented: "I have no doubts that we have a lot of experience and class. Our task is to find some weak points in the opposition and put pressure there.
"We know there will be a great atmosphere at our wonderful stadium and we will be well supported. Our team is going to be so hugely motivated and focused on the match.
"Despite having spoken a lot about the strong qualities of Manchester United, in any game against any opponent, we can change the course of the match.
"We have to keep looking for our chances and soon as our supporters are feeling that we are close to achieving a great performance and a great result, then I am sure that we can succeed a lot."
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...iews-champions-league-match-v-man-united.aspx
Team News
Manchester United
Zlatan Ibrahimović, Paul Pogba, Marcos Rojo, Marouane Fellaini, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick ruled out. Antoinio Valencia to be rested. Eric Bailly returns from suspension.
CSKA Moscow
Aleksandr Makarov and Mario Fernandes ruled out.
Know the opposition
PFC Central Sport Club of the Army Moscow (nicknamed Koni - Horses, or Krasno-sinie - Red-blues), is a Russian professional football club based in Moscow, and playing in the Russian Premier League. The history of the CSKA dates back to 1911. Officers in the army of the Tsar who loved skiing founded the Society of Ski Sports Amateurs. Later on they began to develop other sports and games. The club stopped its activities due to the 1917 Russian Revolution. After the Civil War the Red Army began to encourage sports activities in military units – especially in the cavalry. Coincidentally, the club’s first stadium was located at the former royal stables, which explains the nickname of the club - koni. Army athletes excelled in football, track-and-field and swimming. In 1928 sports activities of the Red Army were united under the name of the Red Army Hobby Club (CDKA – Central House of the Red Army). The name was changed several times up until 1960, when the club took the name of CSKA.
CSKA had its most successful period after World War II with five titles in six seasons. It won a total of 7 Soviet Top League championships, including the last-ever season in 1991. The club has also won 6 Russian Premier League titles, and the 2004-05 UEFA Cup. CSKA was the official team of the Soviet Army during the communist era. The club later became privatized and in 2004, the club received a major financial infusion from a sponsorship deal with Sibneft, an oil company owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The Main Moscow derby is the name of the match between two Moscow based teams – CSKA and Spartak. CSKA play their home games at the VEB Arena, also known as Arena CSKA.
Referee
Jonas Eriksson.
