Jose Couceiro: Before the CSKA match I told Pavlyuchenko he will score today

Lokomotiv Moscow manager Jose Couceiro commented on his team’s 2-0 victory against CSKA Moscow, in which Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his first goal for the club.

«Did you intend to take possession of the ball in the first half and score an early goal, or was it just luck?»

«We knew that it would be a difficult game and we had little time to recover after the cup match. So we realised that we need to get an advantage early on in the game, and we succeeded.»

«Did you tell your players to focus on long-range shots at Chepchugov’s goal?»

«Yes, of course.»

«Before the cup game you said that Caicedo was in a better shape than Pavlyuchenko. What can you say about Roman’s fitness now?»

«That wasn’t what I said. I only responded to the question «How long will you wait till he gets a goal» by saying «As long as it takes.» And before this game I told him: «Roman, you will score today.» But I don’t see the point in comparing Pavlyuchenko with Caicedo, they are very different.»

«Will he score in the next match?»

«I hope so, but it is not my main demand to him. Roman is a great striker and he will score as many goals, as he can,» the Portuguese manager told Russian TV station NTV+.