Balakhnin: If Malcom returns, Zenit will strengthen, but there is a problem
Football expert Sergey Balaxnin shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview about Malcom's return to "Zenit" and the defeat in the friendly match against "Baltika." This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
He was optimistic about the possibility of Malcom leaving "Al-Hilal" and returning to "Zenit." According to Balaxnin, Malcom was a successful player at "Zenit" and has already adapted to the Uzbekistan league, so he could strengthen the team.
Currently, things are not going well at "Zenit," as a lack of cohesion within the team was evident in the match against "Baltika." The expert also emphasized that "Zenit" needs a strong central striker.
He noted that although there are many players in the team who can score goals, the problem lies within for achieving consistent results, so changes are necessary. Sergey Balaxnin mentioned that Aleksandr Sergeyev has not been able to show himself at "Zenit."
Sergeyev has become more active since moving to "Kryl'ya Sovetov," as the situation there is different; they are fighting for survival rather than for first place. He pointed out that while the result and score of the defeat against "Baltika" are not alarming, the quality and effectiveness of the game are low.
Regarding the new player Vega, he stated that it is difficult to draw conclusions based on just one game. He emphasized that replacing Douglaz Santos is challenging.
The team's head coach Semak mentioned that he would involve young players Kondakov and Shilov more in games, which was considered a correct decision. At the same time, according to Timoshuk's interview, a young player must immediately prove himself to play for "Zenit," otherwise he will be forced to leave the team.
In Balaxnin's opinion, "Zenit's" chances for the upcoming season can still change, as the quality of play is not yet perfect. The team needs a strong forward, and there is a possibility that the season will be complicated again.
Overall, there is still time for changes at "Zenit," and strengthening the team is considered important.
