Karavaev is stronger than Mario Fernandez in defense, Shalimov believes

Zenit defender Vyacheslav Karavaev is stronger than Mario Fernandez in defense, Russian coach Igor Shalimov told RB Sport.

Zenit announced the conclusion of a contract with 32-year-old Fernandez on Monday. The agreement is designed for one year with the possibility of extension for another season.

– Karavaev is hardy, angry, at a good football age, in defense he is stronger than Mario. The question is whether Fernandez still has the qualities by which we remember him – playing in attack, sharpening, jerking … If there really is an excess of 3-4 kg, then the question is not just how to lose, but how to bring the player into better condition, and this is a few weeks, – said Shalimov.

Previously, Fernandez played for CSKA Moscow, in which he became a three-time champion of Russia and the owner of the Cup of the country. The defender’s last club was the Brazilian Internacional.

Zenit in the first round of the new season WORLD RPL on Saturday will play away with the Nizhny Novgorod “PARI NN”. Watch the live broadcast of the match starting at 15:10 on the MATCH PREMIER channel, as well as on matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.