Chelsea star Zhirkov feeling just grand after backing Kazan to bash Barca

Yuri Zhirkov is £1000 better off after backing Rubin Kazan to achieve the unthinkable and beat Barcelona. The Russia winger won the cash from a doubting Chelsea team-mate, who initially promised to pay the Stamford Bridge new boy £1million if the minnows got three points in the Nou Camp. Even 26-year-old Zhirkov could barely believe it when he heard that Rubin had indeed beaten the European champions 2-1 on Tuesday night and called a Russian journalist at the match for confirmation. Zhirkov said: 'I told a team-mate at Chelsea that Rubin would not lose in the Nou Camp. "That's impossible," he replied, "bet me £500 and I'll give you £1m".' Fortunately for the loser, in the end they settled on Zhirkov risking £500 and the mystery team-mate laying out double. 'At his request, I won't say who it is,' said Zhirkov. 'I won the bet and stunned team-mates. And most important, now loads of people in England know and respect Rubin, who managed to beat Barcelona, even at their own home!'