Source: Team_Talk
McGeady: Russia move was best for me
Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady insists he has nothing to prove after admitting his move to Spartak Moscow was surrounded in negativity.[LNB] McGeady is back in Britain as the Russians prepare to take on Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.[LNB]Spartak lost the first match 2-0 in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow a fortnight ago but have since recorded back-to-back victories in their domestic league.[LNB]Coach Valery Karpin is facing something of an injury crisis as he will go into the game without injured forward Ari, Sergei Parshivlyuk and Martin Stranzl.[LNB]McGeady's move to Moscow from the Glasgow giants for £9.5 million last summer was something of a surprise to many pundits and the winger revealed there was a lot of negativity when he opted to make the switch.[LNB]Speaking at Spartak's pre-match press conference, McGeady said: "The reaction was not all positive to be honest, there was a lot of negativity surrounding the move.[LNB]"People said it was too far away to move to, that the league was too different and it was a different culture. But none of those things have affected me and I have no regrets about the move in the three months I've been there. I have settled in quite well.[LNB]"Not many people would jump at the chance to move to Russia and so many people I spoke to said they wouldn't fancy it, it was just the British mentality.[LNB]"Most players from Scotland want to move to the Premier League or stay in Scotland but me, I wanted to broaden my horizons.[LNB]"I think I am playing in a better league with the exposure of Champions League football. You look at Scotland, and with no disrespect to the other teams, but it is Celtic and Rangers every season, in Russia there are four teams that play European football."[LNB]McGeady does not feel any added pressure because he is returning to Britain and accepts they will have to work hard to get anything out of Chelsea.[LNB]"There is no more pressure on me than any other game I play," he added.[LNB]"There is added responsibility to create chances and that is the burden I have on my back in every game.[LNB]"I just hope we can take something from the game. I believe if we can add to our second-half in Moscow against Chelsea, we will have a good chance.[LNB]"Chelsea are neck-and-neck with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United. They are always going to be in the running to win it. They will be there or thereabouts come the end of the tournament.[LNB]"Chelsea are a fantastic team, well organised defensively and they are very strong in attack but we have the players who can cause them problems.[LNB]"I want to go out and prove myself at the highest level and compete with the best players in the world which I think Chelsea have in their starting 11 and their squad, but I want to show people what I can do.[LNB]"Do I have anything to prove to Celtic fans? Not really, I played for Celtic for six or seven years, I just want to keep proving to myself I can compete at the top level."[LNB]Meanwhile coach Valery Karpin revealed that Brazilian midfielder Alex, who missed the first game in Russia with a thigh injury, was almost certain to play.
