Zenit Pre-Season Tournament Reveals Youth Growth and New Challenges

Sports commentator Gennady Orlov spoke during an interview with RB Sports conducted between July 1 and July 15 in St. Petersburg. He noted that Zenit players gained valuable experience from the preparation matches during the pre-season tournament hosted in the city, a period that allowed the blue-white-blue squad to test themselves against high-level opposition. Orlov highlighted that Zenit’s young talents encountered a tougher, more demanding standard than they had faced before, marked by sharper pressing, quicker ball circulation, and more aggressive battles for possession. This exposure, he suggested, served as a wake-up call for the youth, revealing gaps and encouraging faster development as part of the club’s longer-term plan. He added that the experience can be counted as a positive step forward for the squad. (RB Sports interview)