Both teams valued the competition, despite some commentators being dismissive of the match's importance. CSKA captain Sergei Ignashevich underlined his team's determined mood: "We know their players are very strong because they won the Champions League. But we are not thinking about individuals. We will only worry about ourselves and not them." Likewise Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was equally determined to be successful: "This is the opportunity to win another trophy. When you play against good teams you have to do your best. I am not thinking about the past and that we won the Champions League."