Alexander Hadzhi, once the general manager of Spartak Moscow, has sharply criticized the red‑white forward’s showing in the recent clash with Paris NN during the 29th round of the Russian Premier League. The discussion centered on how Nicholson approached the goal and the build-up play that followed, with Hadzhi expressing clear frustration over missed opportunities during a pivotal moment in the season.
Hacı, a figure nicknamed “Championship” by fans and insiders alike, argued that the team should have secured a result by converting chances that were slipping through the fingers of his squad. He asked why the ball wasn’t finished with a cleaner touch, why the method of finishing mattered less than simply finding the back of the net. Football, in his view, is a straightforward game of possession and decisiveness: seize the moment, take the shot, and close the deal on an open goal. The strain and nerves behind such moments, he noted, can become a heavy burden for players and teams alike.
Spartak and Paris NN settled for a goalless draw in Moscow, leaving both sides with a point apiece from a tense encounter in the capital.
The result left Spartak short of momentum as they failed to topple CSKA, who had also been held to a 0-0 draw by Krasnodar the previous day, widening the gap in the standings as the season nears its end.
With the 2022/23 campaign nearing completion in the Russian Premier League, the army club sits in second place on 55 points, while Spartak sits close behind in third on 54 points, setting up a dramatic finish to the table.
Looking ahead to Round 30, CSKA is scheduled to host Rostov in Moscow on 3 June, while Spartak travels to Samara to face Wings of the Sovets on the same day, a fixture that could swing the race for the top two spots in the standings.
Earlier, Valery Gladilin, a former coach of Spartak Moscow and the Russian national team, discussed the battle for the runner-up position in the league in an interview, weighing in on the tactical challenges and the pressure of securing a top-two finish as the season winds down.