A former Russian national team footballer, Alexander Mostovoy, weighed in on Zenit’s triumph in the Russian Super Cup against CSKA, noting a highly charged reaction from players Malcolm and Claudinho. He quoted the publication Champion and offered his assessment of the match and the celebrations that followed.
According to Mostovoy, CSKA did not deserve to lose, but they would have deserved to win more. He singled out Kerzhakov as a player Zenit should be praised for, while describing Malcolm and Claudinho as jubilant as if they had clinched the Champions League title. The comparison underscored the intensity of Zenit’s postmatch mood and the drama surrounding the trophy clash.
Zenit’s victory came on July 15 when the team faced CSKA Moscow in the Russian Super Cup. Regulation time finished goalless at 0:0, and the match progressed to a penalty shootout, where Zenit prevailed 5-4. The decisive moment belonged to Robert Renan, who delivered the winning shot to seal the win for his side.
With this result, Zenit extended its dominance in the competition, securing the Super Cup for the eighth time and recording a fourth consecutive trophy. The club, based on the banks of the Neva, reaffirmed its position as a perennial force in Russian football and added another silverware to its expanding cabinet.
On the league front, Zenit had already clinched the Russian Premier League title for the 2022/23 season under the guidance of Sergei Semak. The champions mathematically secured the championship in the 26th round, achieving a fifth league crown in a row. Across 30 rounds, the team accumulated 70 points, demonstrating a sustained level of excellence throughout the campaign.
Former Russian coach Nikolai Pisarev offered a critical view of Zenit’s form, describing the team in his assessment as weaker than expected for a club of its stature. Pisarev’s comments added a contrasting perspective to Zenit’s recent success, highlighting ongoing debates about the squad’s depth and consistency during the season.