Former Russia forward Dmitry Bulykin commented on the appointment of 45-year-old Spaniard Josep Clotet as head coach of Moscow Torpedo. He suggested that the coach will be given space to operate, yet he doubts that this move will be enough to pull the team away from relegation threats in the Russian Premier League (RPL). (Citation: interview with Bulykin on socialbites.ca)
Experts estimate that a meaningful assessment will come only after roughly half a season has passed. It is believed that Clotet may be allowed to implement his methods a bit later, but with Torpedo’s current plight, escaping the bottom of the table remains unlikely. In this view, the Spaniard could end up coaching in the First Division in the near term, depending on results. (Citation: season outlook analysis, socialbites.ca)
Josep Clotet began his coaching career in Catalonia, taking charge of Cornella for two seasons. He then built experience with Espanyol’s youth system and the club’s reserve side before seeking opportunities abroad. His career ledger includes spells in Sweden, Norway, England, and Italy. Most recently, he led Brescia and SPAL in Italy. Clotet becomes the first foreign head coach in Torpedo’s history and the latest in a line of international tacticians who have joined Russian clubs in recent years. (Citation: coaching biography, career chronology)
After twenty rounds, Torpedo sits at the bottom of the RPL table, trailing the safer part of the standings by ten points and six points from the playoff zone. Throughout the season, the club has secured only two victories, one of which occurred due to a technical decision when Pari NN were penalized in the final round because Yaroslav Mikhailov was disqualified. This sequence underscores the substantial challenge ahead for Clotet and his staff as they attempt to recalibrate the team’s tempo and tactical approach. (Citation: league standings report, match summaries)
In a separate public remark, former Torpedo forward Ilya Stefanovich criticized the overall health of football in Russia, suggesting that the sport is facing a broader crisis of development and competitive momentum. (Citation: Stefanovich comments, post-match media)