Josep Clotet, head coach of Moscow Torpedo, laid out why three players were taken out of training alongside the main group. He stressed that the team must come first in every decision he makes as both a coach and a person. His aim is to protect the collective. If something goes wrong, he explains, the choice is made for the good of Torpedo. He insisted that his actions are aimed at benefiting the squad, not serving personal interests. The focus remains on how all players can contribute to the team’s progress. One example he cited was Netfullin, who completed a full 90 minutes in a recent match, yet the broader picture goes beyond one game or one athlete. He emphasized that performance and training decisions are driven by team needs, not by individual exposure or convenience, as reported by Match TV.
Back in late April, Clotet decided to suspend defenders Ilya Kutepov and Yuri Zhuravlev, along with captain Ravil Netfullin, from training with the main cohort. The rationale behind these suspensions was framed as a move to recalibrate the group dynamic and reinforce accountability within the squad. The coach has consistently stressed that entry and reintegration into the first team hinge on demonstrating commitment to the club’s standards and the shared objectives of Torpedo.
Clotet has a varied coaching résumé, having led the youth setup at Espanyol and worked across several European leagues. His coaching journey includes spells in Sweden, Norway, England, and Italy. His most recent posts were with Brescia and SPAL in Italy, after which he became the first foreign head coach in the history of Torpedo. This diverse background informs his approach at the Russian club, where he seeks to instill discipline, tactical clarity, and a professional ethos that can lift the whole organization, including the younger players who train alongside the senior squad.
At present, Torpedo sits far from the top of the Russian Premier League standings. The club has earned 13 points and remains in a vulnerable position, with a sizable gap to the leading teams. Under Clotet’s oversight, the team has managed a single victory, against Fakel, but has suffered a series of defeats that underscore the challenge of rebuilding confidence and consistency. The aim is to convert potential into results and to use every training session as a chance to reinforce precise decision making, physical readiness, and strategic discipline across the squad.
Criticism of Clotet’s methods surfaced from former Torpedo coach Ilya Abaev, who voiced concerns about the direction of the team’s leadership and training decisions. The exchange highlighted the pressure and scrutiny that comes with managing a club in a tough league environment. Clotet has stated that his priority is the collective progress of Torpedo, and his actions are guided by a long-term plan for stability and improvement, even when short-term results remain challenging. The evolving dialogue around team management reflects the broader struggle to balance accountability, player development, and competitive performance in a sport where every choice can ripple through the locker room and onto the pitch. At the end of the day, the objective is to create a cohesive unit that can compete at a high level, win games, and build a sustainable pathway for both seasoned players and emerging talents within the Torpedo system.