Spalletti wants Zenit to be patient in key Champions League clash

Zenit St. Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has urged his side not to go all out to win Wednesday’s Champions League third qualifying round second leg tie against Romania’s Unirea Urziceni “in the first ten minutes”.

Zenit St. Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has urged his side not to go all out to win Wednesday’s Champions League third qualifying round second leg  tie against Romania’s Unirea Urziceni “in the first ten minutes”.

Runaway Russian Premier League leaders Zenit face Unirea in St. Petersburg after the first leg in Romania ended goalless.

“We mustn’t lose our balance or composure - we don’t have to try to get the result in the first ten minutes,” Spalletti told a pre-match news conference.

“We will score one way or another anyway,” he added.

The former Roma trainer also dismissed speculation that Unirea’s reported financial difficulties would mean they were not focused on the Champions League.

“The Champions League is the kind of tournament that gives you a mass of opportunities…the chance to become one of the top European sides,” he said. “So I’m sure that Unirea’s players will perform just like they did in the first match, and even try to achieve something more.”

The winners of the tie will go forward to a final play-off against the lowest-ranked qualifier from England, France, Italy, Germany or Spain. The losers will have to make do with a play-off for a spot in the less lucrative and prestigious Europa League’s group stage.

Zenit have only once previously taken part in Europe’s elite club competition, finishing behind Juventus and Real Madrid in the group stages of the 2008/09 tournament.

The match kicks off at 8:30 p.m. (16:30 GMT) and will be shown live on Russia’s NTV TV channel.

MOSCOW, August 4 (RIA Novosti)