Dynamo´s Semin excited by PSG test

Dynamo Kiev head coach Yuri Semin is relishing his side’s opening UEFA Champions League Group A clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

The sides will lock horns for the third time in Europe, with their last meeting in Europe’s elite competition coming in 1994.

Semin is well aware of the threat posed by PSG’s expensively assembled squad, and believes should his side come away from the Parc de Princes with a draw, it will be a point well earned.

“If I remember, we played PSG twice. The first time in 1994 in the Champions League and we lost,” he said.

“But in 2009, we took our revenge in the Europa League. So this third confrontation will be difficult. It will be hard to predict who will win. We are really ready to play this game.

“Three years ago, it was a draw. Today … Paris is a team of stars, they made interesting transfers and I think that no matter which (players) will be in the Parc des Princes, we will do well to gain points here. So a draw would be good for us.”

One of PSG’s star attractions, Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has enjoyed enormous success in domestic football, winning league titles in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

But he is yet to taste Champions League glory, despite enjoying productive spells at Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan.

“I think it is the biggest tournament as a footballer for the club that you can play for,” he said.

“Every year I have been playing it, but so far I have not won it. I am still fighting and doing my best to win it and this time I will be representing Paris.

“I think it will be a huge experience, because of the quality and potential that we have and it will be very important for us.

“You will see the level and the quality is different from the competition, from any competition, not only French, Italian, Spain where I was, so these are the games you want to play in and the games that make you become even better.”