Gennady Orlov, a veteran football commentator for Zenit St. Petersburg, believes the team lacks freshness this season. He expressed his view to Sports24, noting that Zenit seems to have hit a dip in energy and tempo that many players are struggling to sustain through a tough schedule.
Orlov remarked that something has changed in the squad. He suggested that the players may be entering a physical trough after several demanding matches. Among those who appeared to keep pace, Mantuan and Baltika were highlighted as looking notably fresh, while the performance of goalkeeper Adamov earned the commentator’s praise.
According to Orlov, Zenit showed signs of fatigue against Baltika, with the entire squad appearing to sag at various points in the game. He pointed out that Malcolm was perhaps the only player capable of keeping Claudinho in check, but now Claudinho has more space to operate. He is improvising more frequently, becoming a freer attacking option, yet Orlov cautioned that improvisation must be disciplined and purposeful. Every spontaneous move should be planned and justified to maintain balance on the pitch.
In the recent Russian Cup Path match on October 3, Zenit defeated Kaliningrad Baltika 2-1. The club saw goals from St. Petersburg’s Ivan Sergeev and Eduardo Queiroz, while Kristijan Bistrovic found the net for Baltika, underscoring a competitive tie that put Zenit through to the next stage.
In the current Russian Premier League season, Sergei Semak’s squad sits in fourth place with 17 points. The blue-white-blue side are preparing for an away fixture against Sochi on October 7, a crucial 11th-round match that could influence their standing as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, there have been discussions about a potential appointment at Spartak involving former coach Cherchesov, signaling ongoing debates about leadership and strategic direction within Russian football clubs as the campaign unfolds.