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Zenit played Bayern Munich in UEFA Cup 2007/08 semis, thrashing the German giants 5-1 on aggregate (AFP PHOTO DDP/ JOERG KOCH)
“Russia’s Premier League equals Bundesliga” – Advocaat
Published 03 July, 2009, 12:23
The Russian football championship is one of the strongest in Europe, as its level equals the German Bundesliga, says Dick Advocaat, Zenit Saint Petersburg coach.
“Those who believe the level of the Russia’s Premier League is low just don’t understand football. I am one hundred percent sure that the level of football in the Russian top division is equal to the Bundesliga. We’ve [Zenit Saint Petersburg] beaten Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, which, I think, means something. Six or seven clubs are fighting today for the leadership in the Premier League, which speaks for the increased level of the tournament,” Dick Advocaat said to Sovetsky Sport newspaper.
“The problem with the Russian championship is not in the level of teams. The big problem lies in the fields and stadiums. And this hampers the development of football in the country. New stadiums should be built,” he explained.
Advocaat considers this the main reason for top class European footballers not to be willing to come and play for Russia, where the salaries are among the highest in Europe.
Dick Advocaat is in his last season with Zenit, and he’s already signed a contract with the Belgian national team, whom he joins in January, 2010.
The Saint Petersburg team now sit 7th in the Russia’s Premier League, but just 4 points behind leaders FC Moscow. And the coach believes their chances of grabbing the title are “more than realistic”.
