Zenit team is once again celebrating its centenary. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
This is the second consecutive season, and it is not surprising that the centenary is celebrated twice in St. Petersburg, where city bridges can be raised twice in one night. However, the ceremonial march seems to be turning into a complex test once again.
The match against Rostov ended with a hard-fought 2:1 victory, but the subsequent clash with Rubin resulted in a 2:2 draw, even though Zenit was leading 2:0. Time has shown that maintaining this advantage is not an easy task.
Sixth place after two rounds is not a disaster for the team, but this result is a worrying sign for Zenit, which has become accustomed to higher achievements. The problem is not in points, but in the feeling that the team's previous solid dominance is fading away.
The game in Kazan showed that Zenit is no longer a cohesive team. Under the leadership of Sergey Semak, the team initially took the lead with a penalty and a goal from Kassierran, making it 2:0.
However, after the break, former Zenit player Mirlind Daku showcased his game, resulting in the score being equalized. Head coach Semak emphasized that there was no drama in the situation after the game.
Nevertheless, this situation did not positively affect the fans' mood. Although Zenit did not lose the game, they lost psychologically.
Leading 2:0 and agreeing to a draw is not suitable for a strong team. The appearance of Brazilian Jerson in the starting lineup is noteworthy.
Although he is showing good performance, the club still cannot fully utilize his potential. Mostovoy continues to strengthen the attack line by scoring from the penalty spot.
However, other players – for example, Vendel is not on the field, and Luis Enrique is absent due to injury. This season could be even tougher than last year.
Although Rubin did not have full strength in the first half, they broke through Zenit's defense in the second half. This team is still expected to struggle for average results, not like Spartak or CSKA.
This raises the question: Has Zenit become overly confident in its previous dominance? The previous victorious march now seems to have lost its balance and is transitioning to cautious actions.
In the next game, Zenit will face CSKA in St. Petersburg. If problems continue in this match, it could be assessed not as a simple failure but as a serious crisis.
Yes, the team can still recover. Coach Semak can motivate the team in such situations.
But the current Zenit is playing not against the opponent but against its own standards. The former leader of the RPL now resembles a team celebrating its anniversary but unable to achieve results.
This second centenary celebration could end not with victory but with tears. If points are lost against CSKA as well, discussions about changes around the team will intensify.
Arman Tigranyants
