Hiddink: Anzhi taking Europa League seriously

Anzhi Makhachkala boss Guus Hiddink has spoken of his pleasure at recording a 1-0 Europa League win over Liverpool on Thursday.

The Dutchman signed an 18-month deal with the big-spending Russian outfit in February and is enjoying his time in Russia following an unsuccessful spell in charge of the Turkey national team which ended in failure to qualify for Euro 2012.

Hiddink said he and his team are treating the Europa League with the utmost respect.

“In the end I am very happy with the 1-0 victory over Liverpool. We’re top of a very tough group,” Hiddink wrote in his column for De Telegraaf.

“We take the Europa League very seriously and it’s a nice experience for Anzhi. In the Russian league, things are going okay aswell. Right now we’re second and that’s above expectations.”

The 66-year-old recently missed an Anzhi match due to a build-up of fluids in his knee but has shrugged off suggestions in the wake of the incident that he should retire or take a step back from football.

“When I was younger, I didn’t expect I would still be coaching at this age,” he said.

“But I’ve still got the energy. Right now we’re playing games every three or four days, but I don’t have to wipe the sweat off my forehead because I am able to do everything.”

Anzhi’s next match is a Russian Premier League fixture away to Lokomotiv Moscow on November 11.