Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat believes his side deserved to win the Uefa Cup because of the style of football they have played.
“Winning a prize like this does not come often in your life,” he said after beating Rangers 2-0. “I’m very proud for Zenit that we have won.
“I think the way that we have played in this tournament, I think we deserved this victory.
“Hopefully this is the start of something for Russian football.
“The money is there and hopefully this prize will mean new stadiums, good pitches and facilities for the kids,” said Advocaat. “Otherwise it will incidental.
“I have won many championships but never the Uefa Cup before, so now it’s almost everything,” he said.
The Dutchman admitted that it will be difficult to keep his winning side together.
“I think there’s no doubt some players will go, so we have to start again,” he said.
“We have to try to keep this team and buy three or four better players.”
Advocaat had some words of consolation for his beaten opponents.
“It will be a problem now, there is no doubt that some players will go,” he added.
“Then you have to start again. That’s a problem when you become successful. We must keep not only Arshavin, but other important players.
Advocaat cited the case of Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel, who joined Liverpool in the January transfer window, as the type of player the club needed to retain.
“Those kind of players you have to keep,” said Advocaat.
“You have to try and keep this team together and buy three or four other players to make the squad better, then you can rotate in the different competitions,” he said.
“At the moment with Zenit it is 12, 13, 14 players who have played in all the games.”
