A renowned Russian coach believes that Krasnodar may struggle to hold the lead after briefly taking top spot in the championship race. The assessment came as the coach spoke to RT, offering a frank forecast of the remaining campaign.
Before the match even began, the expert anticipated that Ural would not lose on that day. The reasoning was simple in his view: Krasnodar had not yet proven themselves capable of contending for first place. The analysis suggested that the club might only be competitive for the runner-up position, while Zenit had already established a stable, long-term advantage that justified their status as champions. The coach underscored a belief that Zenit’s consistency across all facets over recent seasons placed them beyond the reach of Krasnodar at that stage.
In the match held on November 26, Krasnodar suffered a surprising 1-3 defeat to Ural in the round of 16 of the Russian Premier League. Ural’s Emerson, Egorychev, and Kashtanov found the net for the visitors, while Cordoba scored Krasnodar’s solitary goal. The result marked a setback for Krasnodar in the context of the title race and affected their position in the standings.
Following that round, Krasnodar had collected 32 points from 16 fixtures, which saw them drop from first place to second in the league table. Zenit consolidated the lead with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sochi, while Dinamo continued to threaten the top positions. The blue-and-white squad earned a 3-2 win against CSKA, reinforcing their push to stay in the upper echelon of the table.
Earlier remarks from the same club’s manager reflected the emotional intensity of the match, noting that he nearly lost control during the game. The episode illustrated how high the stakes are for Krasnodar and how the pressure of leading the standings can influence decisions, tactics, and morale in critical moments of the season.