Shamil Tarpishchev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, has voiced concerns about Spartak and the overall mood inside the club. He indicated that players appear to have reduced their competitive edge, a situation he described as affecting the team’s willingness to push for the coach. The broader implication, he suggested, is that the team may be losing its collective sense of urgency at a crucial moment in the season, a point he conveyed through TASS.
According to Tarpishchev, the moment may demand a difficult decision for coach Abascal. He noted a strong sense of guilt connected with recent results and mistakes, listeners got the sense that he believes the team should reassess its leadership and direction. Tarpishchev added that the upcoming match against CSKA might not decide the season, yet warned that what has been happening inside Spartak is rooted in more than tactical errors. There appears to be a psychological shift within the squad, with the coach himself facing questions about how to restore the fight and focus that once defined the club, he explained.
Abascal took charge of Spartak ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Before arriving in Moscow, he had coaching stints in Volos, Greece, and Basel, Switzerland. Over the course of his tenure, the contract negotiations reflected an upward trajectory in compensation as the season progressed, signaling an initial vote of confidence from the club’s leadership. Under his guidance last season, the red and white squad achieved a third-place finish in the Russian Championship, marking a notable achievement in a competitive league and contributing to a sense of expectation about continued improvement.
In recent fixtures, Spartak faced a tough defeat on October 1, losing to Krylya Sovetov Samara with a scoreline of 0:4. The early minutes were challenging, with Yuri Gorshkov scoring twice by the 25th minute. In the second half, Garre and Shitov added goals for the opponents, extending Spartak’s struggle on the field. The result underscored persistent issues that the team has tried to address in training and strategy sessions, while also highlighting the need for a renewed collective effort from players, coaches, and staff alike.
Looking ahead, Spartak is scheduled to meet CSKA on October 8 as part of the Russian Championship, a matchup routinely watched for its significance in the league standings and morale. On October 4, Spartak is also slated to compete in the Russian Cup against Dynamo, a game that could offer an important opportunity to rebound and demonstrate resilience. The proximity of these fixtures places extra pressure on the squad to demonstrate cohesion, competitive spirit, and tactical clarity as they navigate a busy schedule during the season’s critical stretch.
A former Spartak player weighed in on the leadership within Krasnodar and KS, suggesting that the dynamics at Spartak were not entirely surprising given the broader context of Russian football. The former player emphasized that leadership transitions in top clubs can usually trigger short-term turbulence, but also hold the potential to catalyze a renewed sense of purpose if managed with clear communication and steady direction. This perspective adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about Spartak’s strategies, the role of the coach, and how the team can regain its competitive edge as the season unfolds.