Valery Masalitin, remembered for his days as a midfielder with CSKA Moscow, shared his perspective on the upcoming friendlies against Vietnam and Thailand. He emphasized that these matches aren’t meant to settle any hard conclusions about the squad. Instead, they serve as meaningful chances for coach Valery Karpin to spot rising talents, experiment with tactical layouts, and gauge how players blend into a fresh cadence. Masalitin cautioned fans not to expect big-margin wins, noting that steady progress will unfold as the group builds cohesion through demanding practices and real-match exposure. In simple terms, these games are components of a longer development arc rather than one-off results that define the season ahead. They provide a window into how the team can evolve, how different players respond to new roles, and how the collective works to translate training-ground ideas into in-game execution. The emphasis remains on learning, adaptation, and incremental improvement, with the objective of establishing a more fluid and resilient unit as the calendar progresses. The dialogue around the matches highlights the importance of patience, the willingness to try novel combinations, and the readiness to absorb lessons from each outing. As the team moves forward, the focus is on building trust among teammates, sharpening decision-making under pressure, and refining transitions between defense and attack. These friendlies are not fireworks but rather deliberate steps toward a more cohesive, evaluated framework that can withstand tougher tests later in the year. The story here is not about immediate results but about the process of maturation, the identification of viable options, and the careful crafting of a squad that can adapt to varying opponents and environments. In this sense, every minute on the field contributes to a broader mission: to create a robust, well-balanced squad capable of progressing with confidence and purpose through the season. The message from Masalitin is clear—be patient, watchful, and optimistic about the potential embedded in these opportunities, because growth often travels in small, unglamorous strides rather than dramatic, headline moments.
