Malafeev calling for Zenit resurgence
Monday, August 25, 2008
Article summary
Ahead of his side's UEFA Super Cup showdown on Friday, FC Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev has asked his team-mates to up their game.
Article top media content

Article body
Ahead of his side's UEFA Super Cup showdown on Friday, FC Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev believes the Russian champions are struggling to defend their Premier-Liga crown because their recent success has led some of the squad to rest on their laurels.
Indifferent form
Languishing in sixth place and eleven points behind surprise leaders FC Rubin Kazan, Zenit are in the midst of a mixed run of results since the league resumed after UEFA EURO 2008™. Malafeev, 29, is all too aware of this and acknowledges that Zenit should be a lot higher but says last year's title and May's UEFA Cup triumph has perhaps lulled some of the squad into relaxing.
'Considerable achievements'
"Overall, the class of our players is quite high and we could be higher up in the table," Malafeev told uefa.com. "We don't have too many problems game-wise, yet Zenit are suffering from a lack of emotion and from overconfidence towards the opposition which comes from the considerable achievements we've had lately."
Silverware
The Russian international, who identifies the UEFA Super Cup as a competition he has "long waited for", has enjoyed a stellar year on both the club and international scene. Last year he was part of the squad which led Zenit to their maiden Russian title, before winning the UEFA Cup and being part of the Russia squad which reached the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™. "In Austria and Switzerland I did not play a single minute," he added. "If not for this, I would count this bronze medal as the biggest prize. But for me the most important achievement was the UEFA Cup while the Russian league comes second."
Staying focused
The UEFA Super Cup would fit well into Malafeev's trophy cabinet, yet he refuses to entertain the idea until after Friday's final against Manchester United FC in Monaco. "It would be incorrect of me to talk about it," he continued. "We must first win and then talk about this subject. Especially given that we have to face United, whose name speaks for itself.
Long wait
"To be honest I have long waited for and thought about the Super Cup, and Russian league matches do not distract me from this," the goalkeeper said. "No additional motivation is needed for such a match. Most of the players get only one chance to win a game like this and we will try to make the most of it." Malafeev is full of praise for his opponents at The Stade Loius II. "If they have a good match, they play phenomenal football. If not, they can have problems. Still the class of their players is so high that even when not on form they can display stability and achieve good results."
'Excellent shape'
And when asked to highlight who he admires in United's squad, Malafeev picked some familiar names. "Of course I single out Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "This is a man with extraordinary technique and considerable charisma. For me personally, though, Edwin van der Sar is a fantastic player. The man is 37 but he keeps himself in excellent shape and is top class. I think many keepers envy this."