There was a lot of talk about how necessary our football is for the friendly matches of the Russian team in September. Arguments were made for and against, but in the end there was nothing to argue about: no one canceled the games and they could be forgotten. But before the match of the eighth round of the Russian Premier League, in which Spartak hosted Sochi, this topic suddenly continued.
“Spartak” achieved victory. Babic scored in added time
Guillermo Abascal was asked what caused Ruslan Litvinov’s absence from the lineup. The red and white coach reported that the player came to the Russian national team not entirely healthy, and after having played almost a full match with the national team, he was not ready to play for the Club. Abaskal insisted that Spartak notified the team management about the current situation, but his opinion was not listened to.
Photo source: Mikhail Shapaev / RFU
The statement, needless to say, is quite serious. And we didn’t have to wait long for a response. The main doctor of the Russian national team, Vladimir Khaitin, commenting on Abaskal’s words, especially noted that the club did not make recommendations regarding Litvinov’s condition. To which the Spartak coach reacted even more sharply. “The team can say what they want, but there is a truth. We convey our request to you, that’s all, finish, I don’t see any point in discussing anything.”
Neither scold nor praise. The Russian team suffered a draw in Qatar
In fact, representatives of Spartak and the national team, in a thinly veiled manner, accused each other of lying. Only direct participants in this mini-conflict can know for sure what information was or was not transmitted to team headquarters. So, in this situation, first of all, it is worth understanding: is there something, as they say, to break spears?
Yes, Ruslan Litvinov played almost a full match against Qatar. Only Alexander Golovin had the same amount of playing time. But, first of all, it is worth paying attention to Ruslan’s own reaction, which is quite surprising for a professional footballer. According to him, on the day of the match against Qatar he felt good and that is why he did not draw the attention of the national team’s coaching staff to his injury. “I thought it would pass,” Litvinov said in a conversation with media representatives.
In fact, it turns out that the footballer himself trusted in what is called a “Russian opportunity” and risked aggravating the injury. If he himself had declared that he could not play, it would have been impossible to force him onto the field. Therefore, the coaching staff and management of Spartak should, first of all, ask Litvinov himself questions.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Furthermore, it is no secret that the red and whites are now going through a difficult time in terms of the functional status of the players and the resulting results. And Ruslan Litvinov, until recently, was one of the main objects of criticism within the team. In particular, after the match against Ural, in which the Muscovites’ unbeaten streak at the beginning of the season was broken and the rise in the standings began.
Dear gift from Moscow. “Ural” beat “Spartak” thanks to Svinov’s mistake
Therefore, it is not worth looking for the root of Spartak’s problems in the fact that the club’s player left for the national team, not without consequences. At the same time, I would like to wish Ruslan a speedy recovery and return to service.
