Vladimir Sliskovic, who has been acting as Spartak Moscow’s interim head coach, believed that Guillermo Abascal would likely be dismissed after the season wrapped up in the Russian Premier League. His remarks were shared with sources close to the club and echoed in commentary outlets such as jutarnji.hr.
Sliskovic noted a long-standing football adage, unwritten yet widely observed: when results falter and expectations aren’t met, a coaching change often follows. He reflected on a similar shift that affected his former chief of staff, and he admitted that his personal expectation had been for the change to come at the end of the title race rather than sooner. Still, events moved ahead earlier than anticipated, underscoring the volatility that can accompany a high-stakes campaign in Russia’s top flight.
Spartak confirmed Abascal’s resignation as head coach on April 14, shortly after a 0-1 defeat to Sochi in the league. The club’s decision came in a moment of rapid assessment, as the team faced mounting pressure to reverse a slide in results and restore momentum in the ongoing season. Source: jutarnji.hr.
On April 28, Spartak grabbed a 3-2 victory over Moscow Lokomotiv in round 26 of the Russian Premier League. This win elevated Spartak to fourth place in the standings, a tangible sign of the team’s potential when it found balance between attacking initiative and defensive solidity. With 42 points on the board, Spartak moved clearly ahead of Lokomotiv, which occupied fifth place, missing just a single point to bridge the gap. Source: jutarnji.hr.
Looking ahead, Spartak prepared for an away fixture against Paris Nizhny Novgorod in the league’s next round. The match was scheduled for May 5 with a 19:00 start time Moscow time, aiming to continue the climb up the table and reestablish consistency across both halves of the field. Lokomotiv, meanwhile, was set to host Rostov on May 6, with kickoff at 20:30 Moscow time, as both clubs sought to cement their positions in a tightly contested mid-table area. Source: jutarnji.hr.
A lingering question remained about the extent of responsibility for the team’s struggles, with some voices suggesting that Abascal bore the burden of the poor results. However, former Spartak players and observers noted that coaching transitions are rarely the sole determinant of a club’s fortunes, pointing instead to a broader mix of tactical execution, squad depth, and injury management that shapes outcomes across a demanding season. Source: jutarnji.hr.