Arsen Adamov and Zelimkhan Bakaev (right) / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Alexey Filippov
Zenit endured until the end and could even win the match for OLIMPBET Russian Super Cup against CSKA in regular time, former Zenit player and coach Alexei Strepetov told RB Sport.
On Saturday in Kazan, Zenit defeated CSKA. The main time of the match ended with a score of 0:0, the club from St. Petersburg won on penalties – 5:4.
– Such an inexpressive game of Zenit did not come as a surprise to me. Firstly, the team did not succeed in attacking a bunch of Cassierra and Malcolm. Regarding the recent tournament in St. Petersburg, there were questions to Chistyakov, Du Queiroz, Claudinho after an injury… And this game with CSKA became such a continuation of the tournament. But at the PARI Premier Cup we were second, and here we are first, we won the Super Bowl.
– Is it deserved?
– I think it’s well deserved. Yes, CSKA must be given credit. Fedotov prepared a team for Zenit. There were 11 fighters who did not want to concede in any part of the field. It’s hard to say that the army team played beautiful football, but they pressed hard. And I would praise Zenit and the first half, and the second. Zenit endured to the end and could even win in regular time – when there was a moment with Sergeyev, Mantua and Malcolm. Although CSKA surpassed the opponent in moments, Kerzhakov’s brilliant game left Zenit afloat.
– Is it possible to draw conclusions from this match about whether CSKA will be able to impose a fight for the championship?
– Yes, CSKA will definitely impose a fight. Because the team is very focused on winning, there are leaders in all lines. In addition to the army team, Spartak, Dynamo with a new coach, Krasnodar, who plays beautiful football, will compete for gold. Many flattering words are also said about Lokomotiv, where Galaktionov plus Dzyuba is equal to the struggle for the championship. Do not exclude the “Rostov” Karpin. So the championship will be exciting. And the game for the Super Cup showed that Zenit still needs to be prepared functionally. As soon as the team “runs”, it will be a completely different “Zenith”. Because in this game only Barrios “gnawed” everything, and many others are clearly not ready. Du Queiroz needs to get used to it, Mostovoy needs to fight for a place in the squad… But such victories as in this difficult and difficult match are worth a lot. Now they will say that CSKA was better, give examples, but there is a good saying that the game will be forgotten, but the result remains. Super Cup – in the office of the football club “Zenith”.
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).
