Former tennis star and Spartak supporter Yevgeny Kafelnikov voices strong disapproval after Zenit’s early rhythm in the Russian Premier League
Yevgeny Kafelnikov, a retired tennis great and longtime Spartak Moscow fan, did not hold back as he criticized Zenit Saint Petersburg following an early-season victory in the Russian Premier League. In a message shared on social media, he called for Zenit and those he believes assisted them to vanish from the face of the earth, asserting that he possesses everything required to expose his view to the world.
In the 26th round of the league, Zenit defeated Spartak Moscow with a narrow 3-2 score, extending their winning run to five consecutive league matches. The win pushed Zenit to 64 points after 26 encounters, tightening their grip on the championship and leaving rivals with four matches still to play this season. The result underscored Zenit’s dominant form as the campaign progressed, and it shaped the expectations of observers across the league.
Looking ahead, Zenit’s next key milestone was anticipated to arrive after their 27th round clash against Krasnodar. The match, set to take place in Saint Petersburg, was scheduled for May 13 and would kick off at 16:30 Moscow time. This fixture carried significance for Zenit’s title pursuit and for fans eager to see whether the team would secure the championship in front of their home crowd.
Zenit’s leadership reportedly preferred to delay celebrations until the Krasnodar match day, aiming to avoid unnecessary distractions surrounding the award ceremony before a critical league confrontation with Spartak. The approach reflected a common strategy in football where timing of celebrations is weighed against the demands of upcoming league fixtures and the broader narrative of the season, as observed by pundits and supporters alike (Source: multiple football coverage outlets). The exchange of opinions around the timing of celebrations highlighted the intense scrutiny that accompanies title races in Russia and beyond, with fans and analysts closely analyzing every strategic decision made by the club and its rivals (Attribution: sports coverage summaries).