Spartak Moscow captain Georgy Dzhikia addresses his playing time after a heavy loss
Georgy Dzhikia, the defender and captain of Spartak Moscow, faced questions about his role on the squad following the brutal 0:4 defeat to Krylya Sovetov in Samara. In a candid moment captured by Sports Express, the veteran defender indicated that this would not be the right moment for a direct discussion in the immediate aftermath of the match. He suggested that a future interview might shed light on the questions surrounding his game time, noting that today was not the proper setting for such a conversation.
That night, Dzhikia remained on the substitutes bench, not entering the field for the third consecutive Russian Premier League (RPL) encounter. The decision to leave him out was part of a broader rotation under the current tactical plan, with the coaching staff evaluating squad depth and form in a demanding schedule. The bench role sparked conversations among fans and analysts about whether the captain’s experience would be used to stabilize the team in upcoming fixtures, especially after a string of mixed results.
In the 10th round of the RPL, Spartak faced another tough test and fell 0:4 at home against Krylya Sovetov. The hosts capitalized on a dominant performance, with Yuri Gorshkov delivering a double, while Benjamin Garre added another strike and Vladislav Shitov, a former Spartak academy graduate, contributed a goal of his own. The loss left Spartak in a fragile position within the league standings and underscored the need for collective improvement across all lines.
Following the victory, Krylya Sovetov climbed to 21 points and positioned themselves in second place in the RPL table, trailing the leaders Krasnodar by three points. Spartak, meanwhile, found themselves down in seventh with 18 points, a gap that highlighted the gap between their ambitions and current results. The setback prompted renewed discussions about squad balance, tactical adjustments, and the responsibilities of senior players, including Dzhikia, as the team navigates a pivotal stretch of the season.
Earlier comments from Andrey Arshavin, who has been vocal about the competition within Spartak, added another layer to the narrative. Arshavin suggested that a Spartak legionnaire — a foreign-born player on the squad — appeared to carry greater showing at that moment than Dzhikia. The remark touched on the ongoing debate about depth, form, and how the team should allocate minutes among experienced defenders as they push to regain consistency and climb the league table. The dialogue surrounding Dzhikia’s role reflects the broader challenges Spartak faces as the campaign unfolds, with the club weighing veteran leadership against rising internal competition and the need for fresh input on both defensive organization and overall team rhythm. [Citation: Sports Express, post-match reactions; league statistics and team standings from the Russian Premier League official summaries. ]