Dubai: Mikhail Nasibov, the massage therapist of the Russian national football team, has predicted that the new-look squad has huge capabilities heading into Euro 2012.
Nasibov, who is also responsible for the ‘well-being' of top Russian outfit CSKA Moscow as they build up for the first knock-out round of the UEFA Champions League in new year, was talking up the chances of both his teams during his recent visit to the UAE.
"I think you're going to hear a lot more about Russian football, both at the national and club level," he told Gulf News at Meydan racecourse. "The standard of football is rapidly rising both in the domestic game and among the national players.
"Russian football has had its up and downs, like any other country. But I think 2012 will be a good year for us. You can say that we're very optimistic."
After their failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Russia bounced back to form and booked their tickets to Euro 2012 with qualifying wins over Slovakia, Ireland, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
They have been grouped alongside hosts Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic next summer, and Nasibov expects the team to progress to the second round.
"The confidence levels are high among the players and, if they can stay fit, and hungry, I think they can go far," said Nasibov. "We have a good coach, Dick Advocaat. After the home defeat to Slovakia, the team began to play better under his guidance and did well to win the group and secure an automatic qualification for Euro 2012."
Home advantage
Nasibov is also hopeful that CSKA Moscow can acquit themselves with honour in the Champions League when they play Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first knockout round, with the first leg sheduled for February 21 in Moscow.
"It will be a tough game, but anything can happen. We will have the home advantage as our players will be more suited by the conditions," Nasibov predicts. "The team is riding high on confidence after their win over Internazionale.
"That was a big match for us as we knew that we had to win to qualify. Seydou Doumbia, who scored the first goal, had a good game, but Vasili Berezutsky's header just a few minutes before the final whistle was the clincher."
And how big a role does he play as massage therapist of the national team and CSKA? "My job is to treat injuries and also use preventative treatment to ensure the health and well-being of the players, whether it is for a specific injury or for an ongoing training programme." he said.
"The work is physically demanding but I love what I do."
Nasibov, a dapper-looking 59, admits to being a huge fan of horse racing. And it's not surprising, as his father Nikolai Nasibov was Russia's ‘master jockey' and the winner of three Europa Cups. A noted horseman, Nasibov rode Russia's representative Aniline to a runner-up and a third-place finish in two renewals of the prestigious Washington D.C. International Stakes during the mid-1960s and a creditable fifth to Sea Bird in the Arc de Triomphe.
