Former Lokomotiv footballer Ruslan Pimenov did not find Artem Dzyuba’s remarks about Zenit coach Sergei Semak amusing. His comments were quoted by Match TV, and they quickly drew attention across Russian football circles. Dzyuba, who had just participated in a high-profile clash between Zenit and Lokomotiv in the ninth round of the Russian Premier League, spoke candidly about the dynamics between a veteran player and a respected manager. The broadcast captured a moment when the forward suggested that the coach’s trust can bend but never break, even in the face of a competitive and demanding environment.
According to Pimenov, Dzyuba stressed that humor about a coach does not always translate into disrespect. He noted that youth can push for opportunities and that a manager with a long track record, such as Semak, weighs potential against experience. In such a framework, a player who is 35 and has already lifted multiple titles with Semak would be watched closely, and any attempt to prove worth is measured against the stability and success the team has built together over time. The interviewer did not seek to belittle the subject but rather to explore how fame, age, and status intersect with accountability on the field.
The match concluded with Lokomotiv edging Zenit 2-1, with a sequence of decisive moments shaping the outcome. Mateo Cassierra found the net for Zenit in the 22nd minute, delivering an early lead that set the tone for a tightly contested affair. Lokomotiv responded with purpose, and in the 60th minute, Maxim Glushenkov struck to restore parity and tilt the balance toward a dramatic finish. In the dying minutes of regulation, Nair Tiknizyan stepped forward to push Lokomotiv ahead, providing the decisive advantage as the clock wound down. The result underscored the competitive resilience of Lokomotiv and the constant pressure Zenit faces from title contenders. The game also highlighted how both sides marshaled tempo, positional discipline, and tactical adaptability to influence the final score and momentum of the season’s early stages.
Earlier, Valery Gazzaev offered his perspective on the incident involving Dzyuba, describing a moment that many observers found controversial. Gazzaev asserted that Dzyuba’s sarcastic reply to questions about Semak carried a sting, hinting at the broader tensions that can arise when strong personalities share a press bench and locker room phases. The exchange, while brief, fed ongoing discussions about leadership, accountability, and the boundaries of frank dialogue in Russian football culture. Across the league, analysts noted how such episodes can polarize fans and complicate narratives around club unity, coach-player rapport, and the responsibilities of veteran players to maintain decorum under scrutiny. These episodes contribute to a larger conversation about the responsibilities of players who carry high profiles and how coaches manage diverse personalities while preserving competitive coherence and team morale. [Citation: Match TV]