About winning the Russian Cup
The trophy is not merely a privilege; it becomes a lasting title that stays with the club forever and earns a place in the museum. It will be shown everywhere that in 2022 Spartak won the Cup. People will remember the achievement, not the minority details that surrounded it, as one leader noted.
About missions for next season
Hard shoes into the legend of Sisyphus dragging a stone uphill were worn by the speaker, who stressed that no grand task was set for the next season. The homage was to the perpetual challenge itself, with the stone rolling back down each time. Everything reset at the final whistle of the Cup final, and the new season began. Past triumphs fade quickly in the light of fresh beginnings. The aim is to keep pushing that stone toward a new summit, and the club’s owner summed it up simply.
About the judges’ controversial decisions against red and white
The issue of refereeing also came up. The speaker argued that a late penalty against Dynamo should not have been awarded and suggested the match reflected wider patterns in the championship. He recalled the moment during the late cup final penalty and admitted the outburst was blurted in the heat of the moment, especially with high-ranking officials present and feeling touched by the situation.
He spoke about Spartak’s controversial reputation and noted that the club had lost points due to refereeing on several occasions. Sections could be shown for each episode, but the speaker acknowledged that this is part of Spartak’s fate and not easily dismissed. A former Ufa coach who spoke with a correspondent echoed the sentiment, saying that while a president’s words carry weight, they do not necessarily alter outcomes. Spartak has long fought to stay among the leaders, aiming for the top three, but recent results have not allowed them to catch up with Dynamo. The right to express such views was respected by all involved.
On the Zenit hegemony
The remarks about a fixed dominance by Zenit sparked strong reactions. It was clear from the outset that Moscow’s side would not clinch the Premier League, yet there was a belief they could win the Cup. A former Moscow CSKA and Spartak player agreed with the sentiment and proposed reforms to boost competition within domestic football. He supported the idea that Zenit benefits from substantial resources and connections, arguing for a more balanced distribution of funds. The goal is to create shared prosperity among clubs and ensure salaries and bonuses help stabilize competition. The concern is that money often concentrates with a few teams, leaving others struggling, especially those relegated down through FNL and FNL-2 due to financial constraints. The argument calls for a broader development that includes regions outside Moscow and St. Petersburg, highlighting that top talent can emerge from peripheral areas. The speaker emphasized that good football needs widespread support and opportunities beyond the capital, and that the situation in the Far East and Siberia deserves attention. The idea is to ensure that the sport grows evenly across the country, not just where the spotlight shines.
A former coach and player of Spartak urged a careful look at the team’s performance. He noted that Spartak’s current style is unstable and questioned whether championship plans can rely on results that do not meet expectations. If there is any bias in officiating, it may invite challenges. Zenit is viewed as stronger in many respects, including organization. Yet Spartak retains a deep, enduring popularity built over more than a century, a cultural asset that keeps the club in the public eye despite fluctuations in on-field form. The path to reclaiming a former status requires consistent success and a clear plan. The sense is that the sport would benefit from a broader strategy and renewed commitment to development, rather than excuses. In this view, Zenit is seen as the strongest club in the country while Spartak works to regain ground and reshape its future, learning from the past while pursuing a stronger present.