Photo: © Edgar Breshchanov / Match TV
Spartak has been going through difficult times for a long time, but last season the team was stormed like never before. Muscovites were left without two head coaches, lost a lot of money and finished in a record low position in the national championship. Throughout these months, the team was accompanied by endless scandals, which were often provoked by the red-and-whites themselves, turning from a sports club into a touring circus.
However, this summer, it seemed that Spartak had finally found some stability. The club management decided on the staff at all levels, so that the team could safely prepare for the new campaign … But the work process was disrupted by another loud news from the camp of 10-time champions of Russia.
Will there ever be peace and stability in Spartak?
sensational resignation
The resignation of Luca Cattani became known on July 13. The club announced the departure of the sports director on its official website, thanking the specialist for the work done. It is clear from the text of the appeal that the Italian left the club of his own free will, although the reasons for his decision, of course, are not disclosed in the publication.
– Spartak highly appreciates the professionalism of the Italian manager, who rejuvenated and renewed our team. We were counting on a long-term cooperation with Luka, but circumstances turned out differently. Luka noted that, if necessary, he would be ready to advise Spartak remotely, the club said.
The Italian stayed at his post for only six months and, as conceived by the leadership, had to do a full-fledged restructuring of the team. Spartak leaders and fans expected a lot from the former PSG scout, who exuded extreme optimism in his first interview in Moscow…
However, Luke failed to bring the project to mind. His promising alliance with Paolo Vanoli only lasted until the end of the season. The Italian coach unexpectedly left the team after winning the Russian Cup, and then it seemed that Cattani would leave after his compatriot … But in early June, the sports director assured the fans that he did not plan to quit.
Photo: © Alexey Eremin / Match TV
Soon, Spartak appointed young coach Guillermo Abascal to replace Vanoli, and this choice surprised many. Cattani was quick to take responsibility for the decision:
“If Abascal fails, will I leave with him?” Of course. I understand perfectly how everything works here. It’s always about me leaving, from day one. The rule is simple, and I understood it. Even raising a pen above the table is always a risk, – Cattani is quoted by the “Championship”.
But in the end, the Italian did not wait for the failure of Abascal. Or, perhaps, he considered the defeat in the Super Cup as such: in the first official match under the leadership of the Spaniard, the team shamefully lost the title to the principal rival in the person of Zenit (0:4). One way or another, Cattani resigned even before the Spaniard, which stunned the Spartak public:
It’s time to say goodbye to each other. It’s very difficult. I am sure that Spartak has a bright future, because the club is led by a wonderful president. Here are gathered excellent players, a strong coach who lives the club 24 hours a day, as well as employees who honestly and professionally work in the interests of Spartak. Thank you for everything,” Luka wrote in his farewell letter.
Spartak is storming again
With the “bright future” of the club after the departure of Cattani, however, everything is not so clear yet. The departure of the sports director a few days before the start of the new RPL season is a sensational event. A personnel upheaval threatens not only to undermine the preparations for the season, but also to destroy the foundation of the club’s strategic development, hastily laid last winter.
Moreover, according to Metaratings, Luka made his decision after the management of Spartak refused to sign the 33-year-old defender Naldo. This moment was the last straw for Cattani – apparently, the contradictions between the sports director and the top management had been brewing for a long time, and the Italian was not attracted by the prospects for further work in Moscow.
In other words, there is no smell of stability in Spartak yet. This is confirmed by other news: according to the “Championship”, in the near future, reshuffles will occur in the top management of the club. According to journalist Andrey Pankov, new managers will also appear in the red-and-white sports block – Vadim Andreev, the general director of Wings of the Soviets, is called one of the candidates for a leadership position in the club. At the same time, according to the Mutko Against Telegram channel, Artyom Rebrov will act as Cattani until winter, and Guillermo Abascal will temporarily receive expanded powers in the field of transfers.
Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
However, how long Abascal will now stay at Spartak is an open question. The club again entered the zone of turbulence, and the Spanish coach lost his protégé in the face of Cattani. So in case of failure in the starting segment, he may well suffer the fate of Ruy Vitoria.
Yes, and Guilherme himself can simply wave his hand, seeing what chaos is happening in the Russian capital, and return to the safety of Switzerland. It is generally dangerous to guess in the case of the red-and-whites: everything is changing very quickly in the club now. You can only be sure of one thing: the biggest scandals of the season are yet to come.
