“It’s a pity my father didn’t see this triumph”: Aldonin on the victory of CSKA in the UEFA Cup, the unshaven mustache of Gazzayev and the reception of Putin

“Gazzaev’s words about the task of reaching the final were received with irony”

- How often do you remember that final now?

- I can’t say that often. But, of course, that victory became an important part of both the history of CSKA and my career. This success is forever inscribed in the history of the club in gold letters. The UEFA Cup Final in Lisbon is one of the most pleasant memories. At the same time, never in my life did I completely review it. It was enough for me to pass that final personally.

- The Golden Euro Cup season began for CSKA with an offensive departure from the Champions League.

- Although we could not get into the playoffs, I can’t call that performance unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the team for the first time since 1993 managed to break into the group stage of the Champions League. And until the last we fought for second place. Moreover, in the final match away they beat PSG, and Sergei Semak scored a hat-trick. But Chelsea lost to Port, and the Portuguese went on. The disappointment was great, but in the end we ended up in the UEFA Cup and won it. Everything went as it should.

- Remember how Valery Gazzaev announced the task of reaching the final of the tournament?

- This happened before the start of the season at the camp in Italy. No one laughed, but took what was said with irony, because Russian clubs at that time had not been successful in European competitions for a long time. No finals were on the agenda. I did not think that this was possible at all.

- After what match did you believe that you can win the trophy?

- Such thoughts began to be visited after Benfica. We played very well at home, and on the road we had a solid match. Probably, self-confidence gained just in the Champions League, because there we looked worthy against the background of such teams as Chelsea, Porto, PSG. Already by those meetings it was felt: CSKA was no worse. Sometimes we even looked better. Well, after scoring four unanswered goals for Auxerre in the quarterfinals, they realized that there were no teams left in the UEFA Cup that we could not handle.

- Does it hurt when they say that CSKA was lucky with rivals that season?

- Top clubs we did not come across, but they all played in the Champions League. Who got it, he got it, but we did not choose our opponents. These are all the words of people who are not well versed in football.

Not rivals were weak, but CSKA was strong.

- Most of all the fears for the result were before Benfica?

- It was very difficult with all the teams. And with “Partizan” had two difficult matches, and “Auxerre” lost on the road. And with Parma I had to sweat. Another thing is that in the native walls looked very confident. At home, they won four of four matches with a total score of 11: 0!

- CSKA then had to hold home matches with Benfica and Partizan in Krasnodar. How was it played there?

- Well! A full stadium gathered for both meetings, there were no empty seats at all. The support is simply gorgeous. The weather was also much better than in Moscow. As for me, this idea has fully justified itself. 

- Benifica, who got to the 1/16 final stage with Nuno Gomes, Simao, Petit and Luizao in the roster seemed to be a strong opponent. Expected to be able to get through it so easily?

- This in a row seems to have passed without problems. Of course, CSKA was fine and played well. Yes, and the Lisbon prepared perfectly. Plus, in Krasnodar managed to score two goals. But in no case it was impossible to relax, because 2-0 is an unpleasant score. Well, that is not missed. In Lisbon, in the first half, it was hot at our goal, but immediately after the break Sergey Ignashevich scored. As part of Benfica, Simao was remembered. A very young Manuel Fernandes played both matches in the base zone.

- Yuri Zhirkov then said that the away match of the 1/8 finals with Partizan turned out to be very difficult. Why?

- In Belgrade, there was a field of terrifying quality. Firstly, we played at the very beginning of March, and the lawn was not in the best condition. In addition, the weather was wet in the first half, and we dug it up pretty well. And after the break, it got colder, and the field simply froze with all the potholes and bumps. Apparently, the heater broke. I don’t know if this was done on purpose or not, but playing became unrealistic. Such "gardens" I have never met in my career. No replacement boots helped, unless you run in the usual spikes. As a result, Partizan left the defeat in the 83rd minute. However, the Serbs had a fairly good team that played dynamic power football.

- In the first half, it was you who opened the score.

- Yes, Daniel Carvalho gave the pass, and I shot from the penalty. Can I call this goal the most memorable in my career? One of. Still, I scored Besiktas in the Champions League in the 95th minute, and Spartak and Rubin in the final of the Russian Cup. As for the confrontation with Partizan, we, in return, in Krasnodar, suffered for a long time. Only in the second half did Carvalho and Wagner Love remove all questions.

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- In the quarterfinals of CSKA met with Auxerre. How then did you manage to defeat your opponent on Lokomotiv?

- The French had a very strong team, but CSKA in Moscow played too well. That day we realized all the moments that we had. I remember we just had an overwhelming advantage. At the same time in France, “Auxerre” acted well, and we played somewhere in a row. Valery Gazzayev left some leaders on the bench. As a result, already in the ninth minute, the French opened an account, and in the middle of the first half, the coach made a double substitution.

- Perhaps the main star that CSKA met on the way to the finals was the forward of Parma Alberto Gilardino. Somehow preparing for it personally?

- About Gilardino then there was a lot of talk, he was considered a very dangerous striker and at the end of the season he went to Milan. But somehow, especially for Alberto did not prepare. Actually, he missed the first match, and in the second he came out only for a replacement. And in Italy, I also did not play because of the exhaustion of yellow cards, and watched the game from the rostrum. It was another test. There were practically no moments, the fans did not wait for the balls. Well, in Moscow we did not leave Parma any chances - 3-0.

- In the second match with Parma, the fans, celebrating the first goal of CSKA, blew up firecrackers and stunned goalkeeper Luca Bucci. There were no fears that serious sanctions could be imposed on the club?

- Rather, he pretended to be stunned. At that time, we generally did not pay attention to Bucci. The goalkeeper clutched his head, after some time he was replaced. Allegedly, in the locker room, he felt bad. It all looked like a farce. A serious discussion began after the final whistle. The guests tried to prove that Bucci was seriously injured, and CSKA should record a technical defeat. They filed a protest at UEFA. Fortunately, the club's lawyers worked correctly.

- Did you follow the second semi-final, in which Sporting and AZ met?

- They didn’t watch on TV, they found out only the result. Not too upset, realizing that you have to play with Sporting in the finals in fact on the road. It is clear that it is extremely rare for a team to enter the final representing a city that will host a decisive match. You could say they were excited.

“Wagner rolled the ball into the empty, and we heard our fans”

- It was on “Jose Alvalade” that Russia conceded seven goals from Portugal in 2004. Before the match with Sporting did you get an unpleasant feeling of déjà vu?

- It is clear that such defeats are not forgotten. But Gazzaev then told us: "The shell doesn’t fall twice in the same funnel." It was an aphorism to the place. There was confidence that this in no case should be repeated. At the same time, they perfectly understood that the hosts would go forward from the first minutes. The main thing was to cope with emotions. And no one doubted the skill of CSKA. Still, we played with Sporting, not Bayern or Barcelona. The odds were roughly equal.

- How strong was the excitement before the game?

- Of course, the excitement was present. Rather, it was a positive jerk. They understood that a match of a lifetime awaits us. The coaching staff and the leadership did not overplay the football players. Right before the game, the guys were assembled and mobilized.

Gazzaev made a farewell speech on the bus - everyone applauded. Valery Georgievich is an excellent motivator, he was always brief and did not pour water on the plants, did not drag them out. Yes, and no extra words were required, everyone understood everything perfectly.

- The only thing in question was the participation in the match of Ivica Olic, who broke her nose.

- Moreover, at one of the trainings in Portugal, Ivica was again hit in the nose. He collapsed like a beveled man. Everyone was terribly afraid, there was a risk that he could not play. But Olic is a real fighter, and he was ready for the finale. Moreover, there were no protective masks as such then. If you look at the photos, the doctor just patched his face with a band-aid, some kind of hard tape. And with a broken nose, with this strange design on the face, Ivitsa did not shy away from any single combat.

- It seemed that in the first half, CSKA was a little bewildered.

- No matter how we prepare psychologically, we are still "jammed." It’s not even about the roar of the stands, they’ve gotten used to it for a long time. Just Sporting started too aggressively. It was overwhelming. In addition, the hosts opened an account. They jumped out of their underpants in the first 20-25 minutes. But in the middle of the first half, we slowly came to our senses and organized a couple of good attacks. Before the break, Wagner did not score a miracle at all. Leaving in the locker room, we realized that the game is given.

- What did Gazzayev say after the first half?

- To reproduce the trainer's speech word for word does not make sense. The general message was this: there are not many finals. The way you spend the second half will be remembered by you for the rest of your life. You can win this match. But to reach the final is one thing, and to win it is another. It is necessary to show everything that they are capable of. It seems that Gazzaev even got an icon. As a result, the second half came out with a completely different mood, and Sporting was no longer so active.

- And what were you thinking at that moment?

- I understood that in principle everything works out, you just need to add confidence. This happened after the break. We began to do more in the attack, and Alexei Berezutsky with Yuri Zhirkov turned the tide of the meeting. Yes, and “Sporting” could no longer attack at that pace, they had no strength left for the ending. When Berezutsky scored, they realized that CSKA was back. However, it cannot be said that in the second half we flew across the field. It was not easy for me and Elvir Rahimich in the support zone. In the end, I gave way to Roland Gusev on the field, because I just did not feel my legs. Tired was crazy.

- Carvalho in that match gave three assists. Was it the best game of his performance in CSKA?

- It was the best season of his career. Daniel in winter went through almost the entire preseason. He had a very hard time, and the Brazilian did not hide this. In hard training Gazzaev Carvalho literally felt sick from stress, vomited. But it did him good. Daniel was incredibly good. He could decide the outcome of the match in one pass. 

- Before scoring the third goal, CSKA miraculously did not miss.

- Yes, it was, of course, a crazy moment. Two people were preparing to close the chamber on the far post, and Rogerio somehow miraculously hit the post, from which the ball bounced right into Akinfeev’s hands. So Igor halfway to the field immediately threw him to Carvalho, and he gave the assist to Wagner. 3: 1.

- After the goal of Wagner realized that the job is done?

- Yes. We realized that the UEFA Cup is not going anywhere from us. It is clear that it was necessary to finish the game without excesses. But in the end, they defended themselves in a disciplined manner.

- Many noted the ringing silence on “Jose Alvalade” after the goal of the Brazilian. Remember her?

- That was funny. Sporting fans started celebrating victory in the morning on the day of the match! People walked and celebrated. Everyone was absolutely sure of the success of the owners. And when Wagner rolled the ball into the empty, the Portuguese abruptly fell silent. Then we heard our fans.

“Ignashevich was nearly taken away with the cup at the airport”

- Wagner said that he gave the fans even boots and leggings and returned to the locker room barefoot. What did you give?

- Actually I do not remember that he left the field naked. Perhaps this was after the award. But we went to the locker room to celebrate. Having received the cup, they first of all carried it to our tribune.

- In the locker room after such exertion, even a sip of champagne took down?

- I don’t remember the nuances. By the way, champagne didn’t even appear right away, like golden t-shirts. Apparently, the club reinsured in advance. There was both plan A and plan B. Most of all I remembered the wet suits of Gazzaev and Giner. They were watered from head to toe with everything that came to hand: champagne, water. The treasured sip from the goblet will always be remembered. Everyone was happy. No one held back emotions. Brazilians danced with might and main, music played.

- The players teased Gazzaev about the mustache that he promised to shave off?

- This topic was raised at the end of the year, when they became champions. Then Seryoga Ignashevich tried to convince Gazzaev to shave. But Valery Georgievich asked to leave his mustache alone. But on the way to the airport in Lisbon, the coach tried to dance a lezginka, or rather made a couple of movements.

- So, the main celebrations were already on the plane?

- No. Alcohol, of course, was present, but so tired that there was no strength. The most vivid emotions were still in the locker room. And on board, they were already rethinking what was happening, taking pictures with a cup. I will say more, contrary to all tales, there were no special feasts even after returning to Moscow, because only a few days later we were waiting for the most important match with Spartak. Everyone could sit at home, but the team we were not going to, realizing that ahead of the derby. Celebrated later.

- Surely you received a lot of congratulations. Which is especially memorable?

- After the match, it was scary to look at the phone. A huge number of messages came, hundreds of SMS. First of all I read messages from my family. You know, I’ll tell you honestly, at that moment it was a pity that my father did not see this triumph. Dad was killed in a car accident a year before. And I mentally dedicated the victory in Lisbon to him, although I did not begin to advertise it.

- On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, all of Moscow literally went crazy. Have you been told about this?

- Of course. We were already met at the airport by a crowd of fans. We went to the arrivals hall and saw the real human sea. It was remembered for a lifetime. Some were happy, someone was crying. Then Ignashevich was almost taken away with the cup! Only miraculously managed to drag him into the bus. Then they went to the base, and along the whole way a whole train of humming cars rode behind us.

- When the realization came, what did you manage to achieve?

“Not right away, of course.” With time. Even now, through the years, I begin to understand what more we have done. This was an impetus for all the children who were sick with football in Russia.

- What bonuses did CSKA players receive for winning the UEFA Cup?

- At that time it was the largest premium in the history of CSKA. But not in the history of Russian football. The exact amount, of course, I will not name, more than € 10 thousand per player. Then it was good money. Giner did not offend us.

- A few days after the final, you met with Vladimir Putin.

- It was nice that the president received us at his residence in Novogaryovo, congratulated. Putin said that after CSKA missed the ball, he decided that it was all over and went for a walk with the dog. And then the guard reported to him about our victory.

Wagner also grabbed the ball and began to mint. The Brazilian did not stop there and made a transfer to the president, who also made a couple of touches. What can I say, this is the whole Wagner. The immediate guy, a Brazilian kid from the yard.

- After 15 years, can you name that CSKA the most powerful team in the history of Russian football?

- I do not like loud epithets. I can only say that that team was very strong, and the team was gorgeous. It is a pity that after a few months they missed the victory in the UEFA Super Cup. She was three minutes away from us, but the judge did not see the explicit touch of her hand with Djibril Cisse. And he was noticed by everyone except the referee. As it happened, it happened. I do not regret anything.