Vladimir Granat, a former Spartak player, weighed in on Guillermo Abascal’s future role as coach of the red and white. Speaking to Sports Express, Granat suggested that Abascal could face a critical moment that could determine his position with the club.
Granat emphasized that Spartak has reached a point where there is little room for error. The team’s recent performances in the league have not inspired confidence, and the upcoming match stands as a potential turning point. The former player argued that a disappointing result could seal the coach’s fate, while a strong showing might keep the project on track. He described the upcoming game as potentially decisive for the red and whites and highlighted the high stakes involved in keeping Abascal at the helm.
On March 14, Spartak is slated to meet Orenburg in the rematch of the Russian Cup. In the first encounter, the Muscovites were defeated 0-1, leaving minimal margin for error in the return leg. The outcome of this fixture will be closely watched by fans and analysts who want to understand whether Spartak can turn the page and reclaim momentum in the domestic calendar.
Guillermo Abascal took charge of Spartak ahead of the 2022-23 season, arriving to guide a club aiming to bounce back. In the previous campaign, under his leadership, Spartak secured a third-place finish in the Russian Championship, signaling that the team could compete at a high level when the pieces clicked. Yet a string of mixed results has raised questions about consistency and the ability to convert chances into sustained success.
Recent results have not matched the club’s ambitions. Spartak suffered a 0-2 defeat to Fakel Voronezh at Luzhniki Stadium on March 10, a result that increased pressure on Abascal’s tenure. The team currently sits in sixth place with 31 points, a position that leaves little room for further slip ups as the season progresses and the fight for European qualification remains intense.
In the broader context of the Russian Premier League, Zenit’s latest victory over Ural propelled them to the top of the table with 40 points. Krasnodar trailed by a single point, while Dinamo stood firmly in the top three with 38 points. These standings reflect how tightly packed the league has become and underline the importance of Spartak delivering consistent performances to stay in the race and restore confidence among supporters. The conversations around Abascal mirror a wider narrative about how clubs balance immediate results with longer term strategic planning, especially when a coaching change remains a live possibility for a team aspiring to challenge for the title.
The discussions around Abascal have, at times, touched on the role of leadership and the pressures coaches face in a demanding environment. Some observers have noted how a few decisive matches can redefine the perception of a season and influence decision making at the highest level of the club. The situation at Spartak continues to develop as the team works to translate talent into reliable performance and to demonstrate that the coaching setup can deliver the performances fans expect in domestic competition and beyond. The uncertainty surrounding the coach’s future remains a topic of conversation among pundits and supporters alike, who are eager to see how Spartak navigates the remaining fixtures and whether the trajectory improves in the weeks ahead. Source: Sports Express.