INTRO: Last season, Zenit suffered. Plagued by disharmony in the squad after the big money signings of Hulk and Axel Witsel, petulant in the way they dealt with the Anton Shunin flare incident, misfiring in front of goal - it came as little surprise when CSKA finally wrapped up the title and put the side from St Petersburg out of their misery. With Luciano Spalletti now under more pressure than ever to wrest the championship back to Russia’s second city and one or two old stars returning to help them achieve it, it promises to be an interesting campaign for the side which in recent times has hit the international headlines more than any other with the exception of Anzhi. As a de facto flagship for the country, expectations are high at Petrovsky.
GREATEST STRENGTH: Experience. Say what you like about the Landscrona group, the racial basis of some aspects of transfer policy, the hugely inflated fees paid last winter to draw the big names in - Zenit are a side containing the spine of Russian national team, have played together for years, and with the return of cult heroes Tymoshchuk and Arshavin, have brought yet more RPL experience into a side that knows how to win. Sergei Semak is gone but not forgotten, joining Spalletti on the sidelines, and from back to front Zenit are a club with enough experience to deal with almost every on-field scenario.
Sergei Semak played professionally from 1992-2013. He’ll now provide veteran leadership from the sidelines.
GREATEST WEAKNESS: Stagnation. Out goes Denisov to Anzhi, in comes 34-year old Tymoshchuk. The other key arrival? 32-year old Arshavin. In many respects Zenit are a club that, after the goalpost-moving signings of Hulk and Witsel, have been content to rest on their laurels, content that the side that won the UEFA Cup half a decade ago is capable of maintaining a challenge both domestically and in Europe. As the likes of Malafeev, Anyukov, Zyryanov, Shirokov and Kerzhakov reach the twilight of their careers, the lack of strength in depth in St Petersburg is such that beyond the immediate first team squad, little has been done to provide adequate backup.
KEY PLAYER: Roman Shirokov. There are plenty of game-changers in the Zenit squad, but Shirokov is perhaps the one man one whom everything could hinge this season. If the volatile midfielder makes his peace with the fans and indeed the club at large, his combative and creative style of play could drive the side on to greater things. If he throws his toys out of the pram, loses form or forces a move, the centre of park could look a little lightweight in the ageing pair of Tymoshchuk and Zyryanov alongside Witsel. His goals and energy will be absolutely crucial, especially now Denisov has left.
DEPARTURES/TRANSFER REVIEW: So far, the big news has been regarding the man leaving - Igor Denisov, a product of the Zenit academy, leaving for title rivals and upcoming force Anzhi as they look to sweep up the finest Russian talent. It’s a massive blow to Zenit, and while the return of Anatoly Tymoshchuk from Bayern is a good attempt at a replacement, at 34 he’s no long-term solution. Ditto Andrei Arshavin, the prodigal son returning at 32 for one last stint at his boyhood side. Outside the headlines, Bruno Alves ends his stay in Russia by moving to Fenerbahce, Greco-Russian goalkeeper Yuri Lodygin comes home to deputise for Malafeev between the sticks, while Dinamo youngster Ivan Solovyov arrives on a free transfer in what could be one of the best under-the-radar deals in Russia this year. In terms of deals yet to be completed, Zenit need depth in defence and a more youthful midfielder or two if they’re to hold up in the face of injury and suspension.
BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE SEASON: If everything goes to plan, Zenit find themselves as Russian champions at the end of the season, with a cup final appearance on the cards and a run to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Kerzhakov finds his shooting boots once more, Arshavin’s return is hailed as a masterstroke, and Luis Neto overcomes a fairly horrendous start to his Zenit career by improving into one of the RPL’s best defenders.
WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE SEASON: In the face of a highly-confident CSKA with a newly-signed Shirokov, an Anzhi side bolstered by Hiddink’s contract extension and the dual signing of Denisov and Kokorin, a resurgent Spartak and a wildcard from the Caucasus, Zenit slip out of the Champions League places and end up entering from the early rounds of the Europa next season. The Champions League eludes them again, poor away form bundling them out in the qualifying round despite leading from the first leg, and a drab tie away at Rostov in the cup sees them eliminated on penalties in the last eight. Spalletti leaves to Italy at Christmas to become Inter’s fourth boss of the season, and Dick Advocaat returns but is unable to turn things around. Gazprom Arena remains unfinished.
INTERESTING FACT: Zenit’s proposed new stadium, the Gazprom Arena, has been under construction for six years, will cost over $1b by the time of completion (rumoured late 2015), and is currently only 35% finished. The project has been caught up in controversy - in March a construction worker died on site, and illegal immigrants have also been found working on the stadium.
KEY EARLY-SEASON FIXTURE: Zenit face a tricky opener away at Krasnodar, but the following week away at Rubin could prove crucial - Zenit lost there last season, and will need all their attacking flair on show if they are break down the tough defence of Kurban Berdyev’s men. Also worth looking for in matchday 5 is Zenit vs Anzhi, a clash of the titans, return to Petrovsky for Denisov, and a chance to see how the title contenders match up against each other.
SEASON PREDICTION: 3rd. Zenit don’t have the strength in depth to deal with Anzhi and their infinite resources, while CSKA will look to carry their momentum, and Leonid Slutsky’s tactical acumen, into the next season. Spalletti will last to the end of the season, but 2014 will see a new man at the helm and a fairly sizeable rebuilding project in St Petersburg.
Author: Rob Dillon
An Englishman fascinated by the Russian-speaking world, its history and its sport. Lives in hope of a Caucasian club ending the Moscow/Petersburg axis.
it is my Primorsky district ))