Rubin Kazan manager Kurban Berdyev has admitted that his side were "really scared" of Chelsea following their meeting in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Blues raced to a 3-1 first-leg lead in the quarter-finals of the competition, after a Fernando Torres brace and a strike from Victor Moses at Stamford Bridge.
While he concedes that his side did grow into the game, Berdyev feels that the Russian outfit's poor start cost them.
"At the beginning, Chelsea were obviously playing better. They had more initiative and scored," said Berdyev.
"I guess we just got really scared of them at some point at the beginning, especially in the first 10 to 15 minutes.
"Then we were getting better and the second half we were much better, but the third goal just ruined everything."
The return leg takes place on Thursday.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
