Paolillo: "CSKA not to be underestimated"
Friday, 19 March 2010 12:51:52
[FOTO Friday, 19 March 2010 12:51:52]

NYON - Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo and Luis Figo represented the club at today's Champions League draw at UEFA's headquarters. "From experience, draws are favourable or unfavourable only after the match has been played," said Paolillo on Inter's quarter-final draw against CSKA Moscow.

"I will always remember the other time when we got Cyprus team Anorthosis Famagusta and they said 'what a nice draw', and then we saw how much we suffered. It won't be an easy match against CSKA and it would be wrong to underestimate it, for two reasons: first of all because CSKA are at the start of their season and they are fresh, and secondly because they play on a synthetic pitch, which favours the less technical teams whereas the more talented ones have less control of the ball."

Paolillo believes there is no advantage in playing the first leg at home. "I'm of the opinion that it's much better to have the home crowd in the second leg," said the Inter chief executive, who also commented on the first-leg absence of Lucio and Thiago, both ruled out after their yellow cards at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. "Lucio is in-form so it's an important absence, but Inter have a squad of great professionals so we have to face up to situations like this. The team has showed that it is compact and that one player is as important as another."

Inter are the only Italian team left in this season's Champions League - a reason to be proud according to Paolillo. "Yes, we are proud, and I am proud to belong to a club that besides having a great past is also having a fantastic present, being the only Italian club present here today. Have I spoken to president Moratti? Yes, I spoke briefly with him and he also thinks this game should be faced with great attention. However, we are here to go far and we will show it."
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