Europa League

[monks data]

- | -

Apr 11, 2013 at 5pm UK

Rubin Kazan
3-2
Chelsea

Marcano, Karadeniz, Natkho

Rafael Benitez "respects" Rubin Kazan

By Michael Penkman, Reporter | 11 April 2013

Rafael Benitez says that Chelsea will need to adapt to the synthetic pitch when they take on Rubin Kazan at the Tsentralnyi Stadion this evening.

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has said that he does not expect many surprises from Rubin Kazan this evening.

The Blues travel to Russia leading 3-1 as they seek to qualify for the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Benitez said that his players will need to adapt to the synthetic pitch at the Tsentralnyi Stadion, but is confident of progressing.

"We have a lot of respect for Rubin Kazan," the club's official website quotes the Spaniard as saying. "We know they are a good team. For us to lose [players] is not ideal, we have to manage the situation and we have confidence we can go through.

"In terms of the game, I think we know their team so they can do well, so maybe we have to react but I have confidence we can do well anyway. I don't see too many surprises.

"You have to play on a synthetic pitch and adapt to that but it will be the same for everyone."

Benitez won the competition with Valencia in 2004.