Salikhova urges Spartak to lock in a lineup and stop drastic changes after last season
Zarema Salikhova, married to the former Spartak owner Leonid Fedun, shared clear guidance to the club’s leadership. Her message focused on fixing the path forward and avoiding a repeat of the missteps seen in the previous season in the Russian Premier League (RPL). The assessment comes as Spartak contemplates the best way to translate talent into consistent results, rather than chasing rapid, disruptive overhauls. The remarks were reported by Sports Express.
Salikhova emphasized that the team must settle on a stable starting XI and refrain from radical shifts in personnel or tactical roles. Without a settled core, she warned, the club risks the kind of volatility that undercut performance in the 2022–23 campaign. A steady lineup, she suggested, would help the club preserve momentum and build chemistry across matches rather than losing it in midseason rotations.
Looking back at the 2022/23 RPL season, Spartak finished among the top three, collecting 54 points over 30 rounds. Despite the solid finish, the club trailed the champions Zenit by 16 points and stayed four points behind CSKA, the runner-up, highlighting the margin needed to contend for the title. The numbers illustrate a season with strong stretches and promising potential, but also a gap that must be bridged for real title contention.
In a notable fifth-round clash, Spartak traveled to face Zenit Saint Petersburg and fell 1–3. The visitors benefited from a brace by Brazilian midfielder Wendel, while Colombian forward Mateo Cassierra added another goal. Alexander Sobolev converted a penalty for Spartak, but it was not enough to swing the result in their favor. This setback underscored how fragile momentum can be when the lineup changes or tactical plans are inconsistent. The match also reflected the broader challenge of converting opportunities into sustained success within a competitive league.
Zenit’s performance in that period helped them climb in the standings, reaching fourth place with ten points from those early rounds, while Spartak settled in sixth with nine points. The early season narrative suggested that both teams were jockeying for position in the upper echelon of the table, but it also underscored how quickly standings can shift with a few decisive results.
Earlier statements from the State Duma signaled a broader perception that Spartak could not yet be counted among the title favorites for the RPL. The political and sporting spheres often intersect in Russia, with club leadership and state influence occasionally shaping expectations around club ambitions. The current discourse indicates a crossroads: maintain continuity and patient development, or pursue aggressive changes in pursuit of a championship. [Source: Sports Express]
As the club evaluates its approach, the focus remains on building a cohesive unit capable of maintaining performance across the grueling schedule of the RPL. The importance of stable depth, reliable performers, and a clear tactical plan emerges as a central theme. In parallel, the club’s scouting and development pipelines will be assessed to ensure emerging players can step in without sacrificing the established rhythm. The overarching aim is to reduce misalignment between the squad’s strengths and the demands of high-stakes fixtures, thereby translating early-season momentum into a sustained title challenge. [Source: Sports Express]