Veteran former "Spartak" player Valeriy Kechinov shared his thoughts on the signing of striker Anton Zabolotniy in an exclusive interview with the online publication "Evro-Futbol.ru". This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
"Spartak" has signed a contract with Anton Zabolotniy for one season. When asked if this would be a strengthening for the "red-white" team, he emphasized that it is difficult to speak definitively about it.
In Kechinov's opinion, Zabolotniy's playing style does not match "Spartak" football. The team’s head coach Dejan Stankovich was looking for a forward of the taran type, and Zabolotniy was chosen due to the lack of agreement with Komlichenko, even though he is older. The goal of acquiring the 34-year-old player is to physically pressure the opponent and gain an advantage in the area near the penalty box.
The club scouts made this decision. Kechinov also mentioned that Garcia was bought for a large sum in the summer, but he has not yet been able to fully demonstrate his potential.
Zabolotniy will be especially important when coming on as a substitute to apply pressure on the opponent when necessary. Receiving an offer from "Spartak" at this age is a great opportunity, so the former player believes he should not miss this chance. According to him, it is difficult to predict how many goals Zabolotniy will score, but he hopes it will benefit the club. The player has previously played for "Zenit" and CSKA.
If he scores many goals on the field, fans will forget his previous teams; otherwise, he may face criticism. Kechinov noted that Zabolotniy does not fit the "Spartak" style, but he also acknowledged that sometimes, regardless of age, few players unexpectedly show good results. So far, expensive players have not been acquired because a large amount was spent during the winter transfer window.
Zabolotniy joined as a free agent. It is also necessary to strengthen the team's defensive line. Considering Aben's departure from the team last season, the uncertainty regarding Chernov's health, and Denisov's condition, it is emphasized that acquiring central and right defenders is important. Releasing Aben from the team was the right decision, as he could not become a main squad player and had a high salary. At the end of the interview, Kechinov stated that anything is possible in football, so it is not out of the question for Zabolotniy to prove himself at "Spartak". The interview was conducted by Elena Grigorievskaya.
