Wernbloom already paying dividends for CSKA
Reuters - Wednesday 22 February 2012, 12:50
CSKA Moscow's Pontus
Wernbloom made a quick return on the club's recent investment
and was labelled a hero by their usually quiet coach after
scoring a last-gasp equaliser against Real Madrid in Tuesday's
Champions League last 16 clash.
The Swedish defensive midfielder was in the right place at
the right time, lashing the ball home in the last minute of
added-time to help the hosts snatch a 1-1 first-leg draw.
"I'm not a real goal-scorer, it's not my specialty, therefore
this goal is a special one for me," Wernbloom told reporters.
"My main job is to break the other team's attacks. I usually
come forward only when we take a corner or a free-kick near the
goal, so you could say I was a bit lucky tonight."
CSKA's frugal owner Yevgeny Giner bought Wernbloom from
Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a relatively modest three million euros last month.
"I think scoring a goal in such a game, he had justified his
purchase," Giner said.
"Whatever we had paid for his transfer we already got it
back with interest," he added with a smile.
The home side struggled to muster much of a threat with
Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia, who scored five goals in his
five previous Champions League outings this season, being kept
off the ball by the Spaniards' tight defence.
Wernbloom then came to the rescue to send a record
70,000-strong home crowd wild.
While Wernbloom tried to stay out of the spotlight, CSKA
coach Leonid Slutsky singled out the 25-year-old for his overall
performance.
"He's definitely one of our heroes," said Slutsky, who
rarely praises individual players.
"Not only because he scored a very important goal for us but
also his play was of high quality throughout the whole match."