Nababkin on Akinfeevs Desire for a Clean Sheet: Champions League Was Less Stressful

Former CSKA defender Kirill Nababkin spoke about the pivotal role of the team’s goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev. The ex-fullback highlighted Akinfeev’s unwavering desire to keep a clean sheet.

«Akinfeev would occasionally deliver a motivational speech before matches that energized us for the game. I can’t pinpoint a specific memorable moment, but he often said things like, ‘Come on, guys, let’s fight for each other’—and similar words. They really resonated with us.

— The Berezutski brothers mentioned that if you’re leading 3-0 and concede a goal, it’s a big deal…
— Absolutely, that was the case. I wouldn’t label it as either good or bad, just a sign of our ambition. If it’s 3-0, we wanted to keep it that way at the back. It wasn’t just me who felt the heat; many players did too (laughs). In the Champions League, it was a bit calmer, as the statistics were different there (smiles),” Nababkin stated in a video on the YouTube channel «Comment.Show.»