From Luca Cattani, the real art of a breeder and negotiator is required.
In the zone of the central defender, Spartak has loss after loss.
After four years in red and white, Samuel Gigot, one of the favorites of the Tushino stands, left.
In the same way, the contract ended with Ilya Kutepov, except that his Spartak years began ten years ago.
A little earlier, Ilya Gaponov, who had sat in understudy, who made his debut for Spartak under Oleg Kononov, went to Samara – first on loan, and then on a full-fledged contract.
The transfer of Maximiliano Cofrie is being discussed today as quite probable. True, he himself assures that he is not going anywhere, but I remember that Jorrit Hendrix spoke the same way a week before his departure. It is only clear that over the past season Cofrie did not convince anyone, and although his contract is valid for another three years, the club may well initiate a breakup.
So the question of who will play next to Giorgi Jikia in the upcoming season is not at all far-fetched.
To find the answer, first of all, you probably need to understand how Guillermo Abascal intends to play. His Catalan leanings point unequivocally to a two centre-back formation, although he is said to have had three variations in his practice. Tactical priority is really important, because depending on it, the double set, which is considered the norm of personnel security, will be either four or six performers. And this is the difference.
And another important point: who does Spartak feel like today? The winner of the national trophy or the tenth team in the league? That is, does he feel the need to become stronger, or is he more satisfied with the state of affairs?
If only four defenders are required, and the current self-esteem is generally high, then the question, one might say, does not exist. The quartet is available.
Number one is 28-year-old Giorgi Jikia. Captain, pillar, stronghold, and so on …
For the role of his partner more than others, perhaps, 20-year-old Ruslan Litvinov claims. Under Rui Vitoria, however, he often came out as a defensive midfielder, but Paolo Vanoli moved him to the position of a central defender, which he also closes in the country’s youth team. Probably, Litvinov is not yet perfect, but he is progressing by leaps and bounds. Including because he has the most important natural quality for a modern central defender – speed. And yes, he has a bright head. Further progress is a matter of practice: if he plays, he will add.
Photo: © Edgar Breshchanov / Match TV
The first reservist looks like 26-year-old Nikita Chernov. Although he himself, of course, came to Spartak to play. Tenacious, with a good selection, with a good school, if you mean the environment in which he grew up in CSKA. Perhaps he still lacks confidence, but in any case, he has already matured and is ready to prove his claims to the start.
Nikita Chernov / Photo: ©
FC Spartak
Finally, there is also 22-year-old Pavel Maslov. True, he was treated for a whole year, and therefore it is not clear what condition he is in today. Although a pause, oddly enough, could even be beneficial. The guy had to calm down, relieve the psychological oppression under which he found himself after several resonant blots. Apparently, fate also decided to tie in one knot the possibilities for mental and physical therapy.
But is Spartak ready to be content with such a minimum? Everything that we have observed before tends to a negative answer.
Actually, it was said almost openly: the club is looking for a replacement for Gigot. The topic took shape in the winter – and even received some feedback from Europe. But then life made certain amendments to the search conditions, and now the international markets are covered for us with a thick veil of doubt. There is no reason for a strong master to go to Russia, and there is no reason for us to take a weak master ourselves – why another Kofrie?
Moving the focus to the domestic market does not make the choice any easier. For example, in the context of Spartak, the name of the 21-year-old defender of the Urals, Ivan Kuzmichev, was mentioned. Yes, a guy with a future, but in terms of today’s functionality, he is no stronger than either Litvinov or Chernov. Good for a clip, but not for the starting lineup…
Sports director Luca Cattani evaluates Spartak with the highest standard, and quite rightly. So, every newcomer should make the team stronger. Moreover, according to Cattani himself, in this transfer window the club intends to focus not on young, but on already established players – such as Rybus.
As Viktor Onopko once remarked, a real central defender must have the eyes of a killer in order to be feared. This is exactly what Spartak needs today. And the sports director will need the real art of a breeder and negotiator, so that in some candidate all the conflicting initial requirements come together.
According to Cattani, this Spartak transfer campaign will be completely different: “It takes a lot of patience.”
Well, let’s stock up. Moreover, the question deserves it: in whom will Spartak see a real defender? The one with the killer’s eyes.
