CSKA's Gazzayev annoyed by Carvalho omission

Valery Gazzayev, coach of UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow, has criticised French magazine France Football for omitting Brazilian playmaker Daniel Carvalho from its list of candidates for European Player of the Year.

France Football unveiled its 50-strong list for the annual award on Monday and although 10 Brazilians were included there was no place for Carvalho, undoubtedly CSKA's best player this year.

Carvalho created all three goals to help CSKA beat Portugal's Sporting 3-1 in this year's UEFA Cup final in Lisbon, becoming the first Russian side to lift a European trophy.

"I'm surprised, to say the least, by the decision of such a respected publication as France Football to leave out all the CSKA players," Gazzayev was quoted as saying.

"We have had a very respected season in Europe this year, we won the UEFA Cup and not to see the outstanding displays of Carvalho, in my opinion, was simply impossible," he added.

"I'm sure there are at least six or seven players from our team that deserved to make that list.

"They are at least as worthy of being nominated as guys like (Lyon keeper) Gregory Coupet, (Man. United winger) Park Ji-sung or (Juve midfielder) Mauro Camoranesi."

Carvalho himself was philosophical about his omission.

"I don't know what the criteria was for naming these 50 best players in Europe but I can name at least as many players who are worthy of being on that list," he said.