Alexey Popov doubts Moreno’s ability to save Sochi from relegation from the RPL

Former Rubin Kazan defender Alexey Popov believes that Sochi’s chances of maintaining a residence permit in the top division at the end of the MIR RPL season are no higher than 10%.

After 18 rounds, Sochi ranks last in the standings with 11 points. Last week, 46-year-old Spaniard Roberto Moreno was appointed head coach of the team – he signed a long-term contract, replacing Alexander Tochilin, who was dismissed on December 3.

— I give 10% that Sochi will be saved. It is not clear what level the coach came to them and why they needed him. He’s not a fireman. In such a situation, I would rather invite Rashid Rakhimov to this place (laughs). Than a person who still needs to understand the Russian mentality, he won’t play with 11 Spaniards. He needs to understand what Russia, the Russian soul, is. Maybe after this the team will start playing, but it will be towards the end of the tournament, and he will have to hope that he will not be fired,” Legalbet quotes Popov as saying.

Previously, Moreno was on the coaching staffs of Roma, Celta and Barcelona. In 2019, he led the Spanish national team, which under his leadership won eight wins in ten matches and qualified for Euro 2020. He also served as head coach of Monaco and Granada.

Watch live broadcasts of the MIR RPL and FONBET Russian Cup matches on the Match TV and MATCH PREMIER channels, the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.