A former USSR national team player and ex-general manager of Spartak, Sergey Shavlo, offered a pointed assessment of the latest Cup of Russia, as reported by RBC Sports. He expressed clear skepticism about the tournament’s current format and the recent participation of certain clubs, questioning how the draw and the trophy have evolved in this edition.
This season marks Amkal and 2DROTS joining the competition, each entering at the 1/256 final. Both clubs advanced beyond that early stage: Amkal edged Zorkiy in a penalty shootout, while 2DROTS secured a decisive 3:0 victory over Chertanovo. Shavlo’s concerns centered on the perception that the inclusion of amateur teams may have been financially motivated, and he argued that their presence can alter the competition’s seriousness and perception. He described the draw as something of a comic story, noting that Group B appears to be the strongest grouping on paper, yet he reminded listeners that the trophy often holds surprises regardless of expectations.
The current landscape of the Russian Premier League (RPL) groups presents a matrix of heavyweights and emerging clubs. Group A includes Krasnodar, Lokomotiv, Pari Nizhny Novgorod, and Khimki. Group B features Zenit, Krylya Sovetov, Spartak, and Fakel. Group C pairs Dynamo, Akhmat, Rostov, and Orenburg, while Group D brings Sochi, CSKA, Ural, and Torpedo into the mix. This arrangement underscores the competitive depth and the varying trajectories of traditional powerhouses versus mid-table hopefuls, a dynamic that continues to fuel debate about the tournament’s balance and commercial direction.
In related notes about leadership, reports previously indicated that Vladislav Radimov, a former Zenit player, would serve as the head coach for Zenit-2, commenting on results from the Cup’s group-stage draw and the broader implications for the club’s development path. This context feeds into ongoing conversations about how reserve squads and established clubs influence the Cup’s competitive atmosphere and its appeal to fans and sponsors alike. [Attribution: RBC Sports]