Astana Coach Stainimir Stoilov acknowledges his squad to play Atletico Madrid is much-changed but wants to show the team ‘aren’t here by luck.’
Reports have claimed Astana are bringing anywhere between 13 and 15 first team players to Vicente Calderon after a spate of injuries, with Stoilov also confirming the team’s League schedule is a factor in his selection.
“We feel good, we’re prepared. We feel very happy about playing a European giant such as Atletico, who are at a very high level,” Stoilov began at his Press conference, according to AS.
“We try to show our game and reach our goal. We understand it’s an opportunity against a team of this level to try and show we haven’t reached the Champions League by luck. We’ll do what we can to reach our level.
“We’ve picked the players we have because we have an important League match. But the ones we’ve brought aren’t worse players. I can’t split the squad between best and worst. I’m sure we’ll show football at a high level.
“We won’t change our strategy. It will be the same as before, as against Galatasaray and Benfica. It depends on Atletico. If we’re attacked we will defend ourselves, if not then we will attack.
“Astana are inexperienced at this level but it’s important to play to win these three points. We have a lot of respect for Atletico. They don’t have just one good player, they’re a team, and they win as a team.”
