Valery Masalitin, a former striker for CSKA Moscow and the Russian national team, spoke in a recent interview about the Russian Premier League’s late-season struggles. He highlighted Voronezh Fakel and Sochi as the main disappointments in the final stretch of the campaign, saying their forms have fallen far short of expectations.
Masalitin stressed that there is little mystery about the teams in question. Sochi, who had climbed to a high level and even claimed a silver medal not long ago, now finds itself in a troubling decline. The veteran forward described the current state of the squad as a disgrace on the field, noting a stark drop in performance and mood that seems to have permeated every match. Fakel, meanwhile, appeared to show signs of competitive play earlier in the season, yet the momentum vanished, leaving a gap where results once stood. The overall impression, according to his assessment, is that both teams have slipped from the shape they showed, leaving room for concern as the league advances toward its conclusion.
In Masalitin’s view, the season remains volatile even at this late stage. He pointed out that anything can still happen over the next two rounds, suggesting that Fakel might later undergo a complete turnaround while Sochi could experience renewed setbacks. This sense of instability mirrors the broader experience of the championship, where fluctuations are common and hopes can rapidly shift from optimistic to doubtful. At the moment under review, though, the two clubs have underperformed relative to the expectations that surrounded them earlier in the campaign.
Looking at the standings from the initial ten rounds, Fakel sits in 14th place with eight points, while Sochi collected six points by the season’s end. These figures underscore a difficult arc for both clubs, contrasting with more buoyant periods earlier in the year. Their current positions reflect a season that did not unfold as promised, prompting discussion about factors behind the downturn and what might come next for each club as the league progresses.
There is a final note on leadership changes in the league landscape. Earlier, Guillermo Abascal discussed the circumstances surrounding his decision to step away from the Spartak coach’s role. His reflections contribute to a broader narrative about how tactical shifts and managerial turnover can intersect with team performance during a demanding season.