Valery Gazzaev, once at the helm of CSKA, has voiced sharp critique of Spartak Moscow under Guillermo Abascal, saying the club currently lacks a distinctive playing style. His remarks, shared with Sports Express, carry a clear message about identity and ambition within the squad.
The veteran coach argues that the personality of a manager tends to be reflected in the team. If Abascal and a key figure like Yuran were to leave, Gazzaev suggests Spartak could drift into a struggle for trophies rather than contending for titles, while opponents such as Pari NN might be battling for survival in the league. The point is not merely about changes in personnel but about the underlying ethos that guides the club on the field.
Gazzaev goes further, insisting that Spartak has not shown a sustained competitive edge for a period spanning years. He recalls the era when Spartak under Czy coaches built a recognizable identity, pointing to figures like Spartak of Romantsev, Lokomotiv under Semin, and CSKA during Gazzaev’s leadership as benchmarks. The current Spartak, in his view, appears blurred and without a clear, memorable face. The contrast drawn is not just about results but about the visual and strategic fingerprint a team leaves behind in matches and moments of pressure.
Guillermo Abascal assumed responsibility for Spartak before the start of the 2022/23 campaign. The coach, who has previously worked with Volos in Greece and Basel in Switzerland, arrived with a reputation built abroad. Throughout his first season with the club, his leadership was rewarded with a contract extension and a raise in wages, signaling an investment by the club in a long-term project. In the most recent season before the present, Spartak finished in third place in the Russian championship, a result that reflected progress but also left room for questions about continuity and development under his guidance.
In the current campaign, the team faced a challenging run of results. On August 26, in the sixth round of the Russian Premier League, Spartak played to a 0-0 draw with Akhmat. It marked the third consecutive match without a victory for the red-and-white side, a stretch that fueled debate among fans and pundits about what adjustments are needed to restore momentum and confidence.
As the season unfolds, assessments of Abascal’s approach and Spartak’s tactical direction continue to circulate. Some observers emphasize the importance of a clear attacking philosophy and a disciplined defensive structure, while others point to the need for sharper execution in key moments, better rotation options, and a renewed collective mindset. The conversation around Spartak’s identity remains central, because supporters want to see a team that not only earns points but also leaves a lasting impression through play that feels coherent, purposeful, and unmistakably Spartak.
Beyond the specifics of personnel and results, the broader narrative centers on the pressure to reestablish a winning characterization for a club with a storied past. Gazzaev’s comments reflect a belief that a club’s soul—the way it plays, how it presses, and how it sustains its tempo across matches—matters almost as much as the scoreboard. Whether Abascal can steer Spartak toward a convincing brand of football that resonates with the club’s history and its supporters remains a live topic as the season progresses, with every fixture offering a new chance to define the team’s future identity.
In the meantime, fans and analysts will watch how Spartak balances expectations with the realities of a demanding league. The tension between honoring tradition and pursuing modern, effective football is a familiar theme for clubs with long legacies. The outcome of this discussion will influence not just the next results line but the way the club is perceived around national and international circles as well, shaping conversations about the potential for glory in the seasons ahead.