Leonid Slutsky, a friend of Lokomotiv Moscow’s striker Artem Dzyuba, spoke after the railway match with Zenit about the tensions that lingered between the players. Slutsky noted that Sergey Bogdanovich wanted to shake hands, even though it was clear that both he and Artem did not share the strongest relationship. Each side felt justified in their own way. Dzyuba echoed a moment he had with Semak, and Bogdanovich responded with a casual wave. Slutsky, speaking on his YouTube channel during the program Commentary Show, said he would not interpret the words aloud and suggested that the players themselves clarify what happened. It was a telling scene that highlighted underlying frictions beyond the scoreline.
In the end, Lokomotiv lost to Zenit 2-1. Dzyuba played the full match but did not convert any chances into goals or decisive plays. The result underscored a struggle for Lokomotiv, while Zenit celebrated a hard‑fought victory that tightened their position in the table. Dzyuba remained engaged throughout the game, but his afternoon did not feature a scoring moment to alter the outcome.
After the whistle, Dzyuba did not extend a handshake to Zenit’s coach Sergei Semak, and later explained that he did not perceive the gesture at that moment. It is worth recalling that Semak was not fully trusting of Dzyuba in the final months of the previous season. By the following summer, rumors and reports suggested the striker would depart the club for St. Petersburg, marking the end of his stint with Zenit and a new chapter ahead.
Meanwhile, former sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev responded to remarks from Kazan Rubin and Leonid Slutsky, who had called the TV presenter balabol. The exchange added another layer to a season already filled with chatter and public commentary about players, coaches, and the media’s role in shaping narratives around football in Russia.