Former head coach of Sochi FC Alexander Tochilin spoke about Fedor Smolov, noting in an interview that the Dynamo Moscow striker should be capable of delivering high-quality football for two more seasons. Tochilin emphasized Smolov’s stamina and talent, saying he believes the player can continue to contribute at a top level for two years, despite Dynamo’s current selection decisions that favor Tyukavin. In Tochilin’s view, the decision to leave Smolov out of the squad rests with Dynamo’s head coach, who is looking at future prospects while balancing the present squad’s needs.
Smolov joined Dynamo in January of last year, becoming a product of the club’s system. He first wore the blue-and-white jersey in the Russian Championship back in 2007, and his journey with the national team began in 2012. He represented Russia on the international stage through 2021, including participation in the 2018 World Cup, underscoring his experience and familiarity with high-pressure competitions. Tochilin’s remarks come against the backdrop of Smolov’s longstanding relationship with Dynamo and his deeper ties to the Russian football landscape.
On April 7, Dynamo Moscow faced Spartak Moscow in a tightly contested match, losing 2-1 after weathering a first-half lead. Dynamo enjoyed an advantage up to the 74th minute, when Chavez scored from a penalty. The turning point arrived as Dynamo’s goalkeeper misplayed two successive balls in the 74th and 87th minutes, gifting opportunities to Spartak’s forwards. Alexander Sobolev exploited those errors to seal the comeback with a double strike, leaving Dynamo to reflect on the late defensive lapses that sealed the result. This game added to the ongoing narrative about Dynamo’s squad depth and the evolving roles of its forwards and goalkeepers in a demanding league schedule.
In a separate scene, the prior match between Krasnodar and Zenit framed the broader competition for the season’s championship, highlighting how match dynamics and squad composition influence title ambitions across top teams. The interplay between coaching decisions, player form, and tactical adjustments continues to shape outcomes for Dynamo and its contemporaries as the season progresses, with Smolov’s fitness and form remaining a key component of Dynamo’s strategic planning and long-term outlook. Attribution: Dynamo Moscow press reports and match analyses provide the context for these assessments, reflecting the club’s ongoing dialogue about player utilization and national-team experience in relation to domestic competition.