At the start of the championship, several clubs are ready to compete with “Zenith”. Talking about “Locomotive”, CSKA and “Krasnodar”, “Spartak”. Certainly an ambitious task will be the Dynamo for the first time in many years caught in the competition. It will be interesting to observe returning to the Premier League “Khimki”. Especially considering the recent events in the Moscow region team: the controversial dismissal of head coach Sergey Yurana and the appointment in his place of Dmitry Gunko.
Well, the start of the season for the Premier League match for the super Cup, in which champion of the past two years “Zenith” will play with “Lokomotiv”, who won the title in 2018. These teams competed for the first trophy of the season last summer. And he quite unexpectedly was stronger (3:2).
it would Seem since it’s only been a year, but things have changed. Lokomotiv’s new coach (Marko Nikolic), “Zenith” team left captain Branislav Ivanovic as well as veterans of Igor Smolnikov and Oleg Shatov. And most importantly – a year ago, the match was almost crowded stadium “Dynamo” (22 thousand people). By the way, that game was the official opening of the new arena “white-blue”. And now the fight will take place on the Sand where their rivals host CSKA. According to preliminary information, the match will be able to visit about seven thousand spectators.
Returning to the Premier League we will note that in the first round of really loud posters there. Most intriguing is the match in Tushino, where “Spartak” will meet with “Sochi”. After an unsuccessful last season, “red-white” in the current Muscovites are aiming to win the title. It is difficult to say whether the team of Domenico Tedesco to achieve this goal, but there are prerequisites for this. Unlike competitors, the Spartacists by the start of the championship could strengthen the composition appeared clearly manifested itself in the second part of the championship Oston Urunov and Alexander Kokorin.
His opinion of the 2020/21 season and battle for the Cup with “RG” said the former midfielder “Locomotive” and Russian national team, champion of Russia and winner of the super Cup Dmitry Khokhlov.
Unable to select the favorite in the match?
Dmitry Khokhlov: would Not do that. The more time teams have to prepare for some surprises were very few, the season has just recently ended. But generally speaking, in such games, you can say a final, anything can happen. So favorite I would set aside was not.
in General, how important is the super bowl?
Dmitry Khokhlov: This is another trophy. And if you have the opportunity to win it – why not use them? But to be honest, I don’t consider the super bowl to the category of super important objectives.
the Summer transfer window has just opened – on July 26, and “Zenith” already ��have riobel Dejan Louren. Horvath is the gain?
Dmitry Khokhlov: Definitely. We see that in recent years, “Zenith” is rarely wrong with first-timers. The only miss was only the transition Marchisio. And Azmoun, Barrios, Douglas Santos, Rakitskiy, they all strengthened the team. Lovren has been for Liverpool, was in the Croatian national team in the championship. This is a quality performer.
you Can compare it with Branislav Ivanovich?
Dmitry Khokhlov: I wouldn’t do it. Ivanovic proved to be great in the “Zenith”, was the captain. And the class above it Louren.
What can you say about Lokomotiv? The return of Fedor Smolov will strengthen the “red-green”?
Dmitry Khokhlov: of Course. Lokomotiv needed a striker. The second part of the season they are left with one Adair. He’s a good player but not a superstar. The same Farfan I liked more.
Aleksey Miranchuk is still in the “Locomotive”. Save it – it is vital for the club?
Dmitry Khokhlov: of Course. Miranchuk – team leader, in the attack almost all tied to it. On the other hand, if the “Locomotive” will be an offer from a European top club and Alexey wants to take advantage of this chance, the situation may change. But for now, as I understand it, Miranchuk remains. And given the performances in the Champions League for Lokomotiv is a huge plus.
Let’s talk about the Premier League. “Spartak” aims to win the title. Do you think he’s ready for that?
Dmitry Khokhlov: Well, if the club puts such a task, then the user believe that it is possible. In the summer the team was strengthened, at Tedesco will be a second season, he became more experienced. Let’s see how everything goes. But certain prerequisites for successful performance in the championship “Spartak” has not.
there is No too much forwards? Ponce, Sobolev, Larsson, now Kokorin?
Dmitry Khokhlov: Absolutely not. They are different players, and some of them can be used together.
August 7, Friday First channel
18.50 “Zenit” – “locomotive”. Video stream.
August 8, Saturday, “Premier Match”
15.55 “Khimki” – CSKA. Video stream.
18.25 “Tambov” – “Rostov”. Video stream.
August 9, Sunday, “Match TV”
19.25 Spartak – Sochi. Video stream.
August 9, Sunday, “Premier Match”
16.55 “Ufa” – “Krasnodar”. Video stream.
18.55 “Arsenal” – “Ahmad”. Video stream.
