“If now the Russian national team played in an official match, then we would have to rely on Kerzhakov” – Chanov

Any goalkeeper in the RPL is capable of becoming the main goalkeeper of the country, including Mikhail Kerzhakov from Zenit, said former CSKA goalkeeping coach Vyacheslav Chanov.

On Saturday in Kazan, Zenit defeated CSKA in the match for the OLIMPBET Russian Super Cup. The main time of the match ended with a score of 0:0, the club from St. Petersburg won on penalties – 5:4.

– Kerzhakov played normally, there were no take-offs, he played normally and reliably, like Akinfeev. In the post-match penalty shootout, the goalkeeper wins and, of course, he becomes a hero. He always had confidence, especially since he is not a boy, but an experienced goalkeeper. I was sure that in the new season he would become the main goalkeeper of Zenit, and it happened.

Any goalkeeper in the RPL is able to become the main goalkeeper of the country, including Kerzhakov, but this is the decision of the coaching staff in the Russian national team. We communicate with Kafanov, and every goalkeeper from the RPL can play in the national team.

Remember last year, Kerzhakov started playing only after goalkeeper Odoevsky was injured. It’s great that we have such a goalkeeper. You should not expect any downturns from Kerzhakov, he is an experienced goalkeeper. If now the Russian national team played in an official match, then we would have to count on him. I have no doubt that he will be called to the training camp,” Chanov told Metaratings.ru.

The new season of the MIR RPL starts on July 21 with the Dynamo-Krasnodar match. Match TV will show live three matches of the first round: Lokomotiv – Rubin (July 22, 17:15), Akhmat – Wings of the Soviets (July 22, 19:45) and Sochi – “Baltika” (July 23, 19:45).