Former football player Evgeny Lovchev, reflecting on Maksim Glushenkov’s performances, shared his insights through his telegraph channel Lokomotiv. He highlighted the evolving role of Glushenkov within the team and offered a nuanced comparison with other attackers in the squad. Lovchev noted that Pinyaev continues to praise Glushenkov, yet he would still favor Dziuba for the way he commands attention from defenders, headlines the club’s public narrative, and assumes responsibility on the pitch. This, in Lovchev’s view, frees teammates from some of the suffocating scrutiny and creates space for others to flourish. He described Glushenkov as the type of player who exerts greater influence on the field, with a manager’s confidence backing him, and he observed Dziuba accepting Glushenkov as an equal. The result, according to Lovchev, is a Loko squad that presses hard, a team that often makes missteps in championship races, and a cohesive unit that learns to grow through rough patches.
Over the recent winter transfer window, Glushenkov made the move from Wings of the Soviets in Samara to Lokomotiv-Moscow. In his short stint with the Muscovite club, he has appeared in six league games, contributing four goals and two assists, signaling an immediate impact and a growing sense of chemistry with his new teammates.
In the most recent clash with Orenburg, Glushenkov notched a brace, showcasing his finishing instincts and movement off the ball, though a penalty opportunity slipped away. Meanwhile, Artem Dzyuba supplied an assist hat-trick, furthering his already strong contribution since joining in the winter window, tallying 6 goals and 4 assists to date. The partnership between Glushenkov and Dziuba appears to be developing into a potent two-man threat for opposing defenses.
Locomotive’s run after the league restart has been impressive, winning five of six fixtures, underscoring the team’s resilience and tactical adjustment under new leadership. The performances have sparked discussions about the squad’s potential trajectory and the depth that Glushenkov and Dziuba bring to the attack, especially in fast breaks and high-press scenarios.
Former teammate Alexander Grigorian, upon returning to the Russian Premier League, has publicly stressed Dziuba’s outstanding impact and the ways his leadership elevates the entire frontline. The narrative around Dziuba’s influence, paired with Glushenkov’s rising form, has become a focal point for fans and analysts evaluating Lokomotiv’s championship chances.