If you look at the results of the Russian champion, it may seem that he is doing very well: two wins, one tie and the Super Bowl won. But if you look closely at the matches, it is immediately noticeable with what incredible difficulty Zenit manages to create at least something decent at the gates of others. The statistics only reinforce this impression: in the Premier League matches against Pari NN and Rostov, there were only three shots on goal, and all were solely by Mateo Cassierra, and there was not a single one in the match. Super Cup.
Zenit created the first action that remembers at least some sharpness in the Russian Super Cup in the 70th minute. And even then, only after one of the CSKA players was injured, thanks to which Malcolm remained open in the penalty area . Yes, he then he was still part of the St. Petersburg team. But that colorless duel starring blue-white-blue could be attributed to the strength of the opponent and the status of the first official game of the season, when everyone is just getting into the rhythm of the game.
In the first round with Pari NN, Alexander Erokhin and Andrey Mostovoy, who came out at the start, generally speaking, failed because they were simply not visible on the field. And in general, the St. Petersburg team was able to show at least something digestible only in the second half, when the opponent was in a minority. In the next match of the Russian Championship with Rostov, Erokhin was corrected and turned out to be much more useful, but Zelimkhan Bakaev and Gustavo Mantuan, who had their chance at the base, played the role of shadows.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Now let’s consolidate our own impressions with numbers: in the first round in Nizhny Novgorod, Zenit scored only 0.81 expected goals (xG), and this turned out to be the third result of the final among all clubs. Only the opponents of the team Pari NN (0.29) and Baltika (0.7) played worse. In the second round of the RPL, Zenit again turned out to be nothing – 0.82 expected goals, only this time it is already fourth place from the end (Ural has 0.38, Pari NN – 0.66, Sochi “- 0 ,56). It seems to be progress, but such a description of the situation seems more like a mockery. Does anyone else have doubts that so far Zenit’s results remain at the level only thanks to luck and successful actions of individual players? Although it is even more correct to say a player.
In all previous matches, only Cassierra tried to somehow significantly aggravate the situation, advance the ball, break into the penalty area with it and look for partners in more advantageous positions. In reality, he was rewarded: all three shots on goal in previous games on his account, and each one proved effective. At the same time, Zenit cannot complain about the weakness of the attacking potential, since the selection of players by Premier League standards is very serious.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Last season, RPL Malcom awarded 23+7 in the “goal plus pass” system, which had to be compensated by the efforts of other players. He seemed quite capable to them. And in the end, only Mateo tries, but what do the others do? If they don’t know what they’re doing on the pitch, why don’t Sergei Semak or his assistants explain it to the players? Excuses for lack of teamwork are also not accepted, because there are no newcomers in the raiding party.
Against Akhmat in the cup meeting, certain beginnings of how St. Petersburg could build a game on someone else’s third of the field were visible, but in the next match against a more serious opponent, Rostov, all this had gone somewhere. . If the players turned out to be poorly prepared for the start of the championship, then again there are questions for the coaching staff.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
What can be done in such a situation? The easiest way is to ask to buy a new cool Brazilian in attack. But if you don’t go the easy way, then you need to start working. In the first place, to automate the interaction of the players at certain moments of the game that occur in matches at the gates of others. At the same time, raise the level of physical fitness. Well, at the same time, figuring out how to shake up players who could relax, given Zenit’s dominance at home in recent years. Well, in no case do not let the situation take its course.
