Zenit St. Petersburg head coach Sergei Semak spoke about the challenges of building a squad after losing key players. He noted that the men who left the club had taken on important roles, and those arriving cannot fully fill the gaps created by their departures. Semak stressed that there are several issues the team must address to maintain a high level of performance on the field.
In the summer of 2023, the club saw several changes in its starting lineup, with midfielders Malkom and Daler Kuzyaev among the departures. Looking ahead, Zenit prepared for an upcoming match against Rubin Kazan. The fixture was scheduled to take place on September 17 at the Ak Bars Arena in Kazan, with kickoff at 16:30 Moscow time. The team aimed to approach the game with focus and a clear plan to adapt to the new composition while staying competitive in the league’s demanding schedule.
On the final day of the summer transfer window, Zenit announced the release of 32-year-old Alexander Erokhin. His contract with the club extended through the summer of 2024, and market sources have estimated his transfer value at around 700 thousand euros. This departure marked another step in the club’s ongoing effort to recalibrate its squad depth and balance as the season progresses, with management evaluating how to optimize the mix of experience and young talent.
Earlier in his tenure, Semak faced a high profile decision between two legendary forwards. The choice between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo put the team’s scouting and tactical planning under the spotlight, illustrating the level of ambition and challenge that comes with maintaining a top tier squad. While the hypothetical scenario of selecting between two football icons is never simple, the moment underscored Semak’s approach to evaluating talent, fit, and long term potential for Zenit.