Valery Shmarov weighs in on Sergeev’s possible move to Spartak and Spartak’s season
Valery Shmarov, a former Spartak Moscow player, shared his thoughts in a recent interview about a potential transfer that could reshape the team’s attack. He suggested that if St. Petersburg striker Ivan Sergeev leaves his current club, he believes Sergeev could be a valuable addition for Spartak and would bring a disciplined, effective edge to attacking plays.
Shmarov emphasized Sergeev’s ability to finish complex attacking sequences with precision, arguing that adding such a player could yield tangible benefits for Spartak in their campaign. He noted that Sergeev’s experience and technical skills would fit well with a team looking to improve its frontline options.
Asked about a hypothetical move, Shmarov urged a pragmatic approach: he would have a positive view of Sergeev joining Spartak because Sergeev is a Russian player who could integrate smoothly into the squad. He added a candid line about his own feelings toward Sergeev, saying that he respects Sergeev’s abilities but maintains a blunt, straightforward view of players in general, including himself and others.
As the season unfolded, Spartak found themselves in fifth place in the Russian Premier League, amassing 50 points after 30 rounds. The team was also in the mix for the Russian Cup final, advancing deep into the competition but ultimately falling to Baltika Kaliningrad in the Road to the Regions final with a 0-1 scoreline. Throughout the year, the club’s leadership made a change in management, dismissing Guillermo Abascal. Vladimir Sliskovic served as acting head coach before the club announced on May 16 that Dejan Stankovic would take over the role on a permanent basis.
There was chatter around Fedor Smolov regarding his coaching future as part of the broader discussions about Spartak’s strategy and leadership during the season. This period reflected the ongoing evaluation of personnel both on the field and from the sidelines as the club prepared for upcoming challenges.