After the final whistle, the Krasnodar players were not happy. I don’t know if it was broadcast, but they approached the bench confused. Mainly to those who had smartphones in their hands. The connection in Krasnodar is so-so, but the broadcast from St. Petersburg was broadcast. They buried their heads in it, but most likely they understood the result. Zenit finished the game winning. The players headed towards the center circle. A little more time passed and something that no one wanted to hear was announced to the entire stadium. After all, you always want to hold out hope for a miracle until the last moment, right?
How at that moment I didn’t want to be in his place. Safonov held his head and looked down at the grass. Someone just collapsed on top of him. On this day, the guys from Krasnodar did everything to make sure everyone had an unforgettable day. Someone nearby, a little helplessly, said: “I don’t believe it. This simply cannot happen.” And he reached into his smartphone. Is it a small mistake? Some in those same stands wanted to cry. But instead they supported the accusation of “Well done.”
Krasnodar has never approached the title so quickly before. But he lost it, squeezing all the strength out of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere in the VIP box someone shed a tear. But we’ll talk about that later.
How the match went in Krasnodar:
RPL championship match in which everyone lost
Immediately after the match, Murad Musaev dropped a seemingly basic phrase. But it is important to think about the essence: “For the last two weeks the city lived only with this game. There were no entries. And everyone wanted to win.” You know what better proves that he is right? No, neither full stands nor surprisingly unified support. All this means nothing at all. Children are an important marker of the club’s success.
On the day of the match between Krasnodar and Dynamo, a graduation ceremony is held in the city. But you can’t imagine how many schoolchildren I met who, in addition to the classic ribbons, were wearing some type of merchandising or simply carrying big green flags. An authentic procession through the main streets. Once again: on a very important day for them (is graduation like that for almost everyone?), schoolchildren do not think about how to throw a big party. And about football. And from a team that has already left a mark on the heart, and on Saturday could expand it to cosmic proportions.
Then I saw other schoolchildren near the stadium. I don’t know if they had tickets, but some went to the park instead of the stadium; after all, Krasnodar traditionally shows matches there. I’m sure all the places were full. Even despite the bad weather. Like in local bars. Yes, like in many apartments in Krasnodar. Here they are very kind to the club, even if they are indifferent to Russian football as a whole. Galitsky can be satisfied. He achieved what he really wanted from his hometown. Although he rarely spoke about it publicly.
Sergei Galitsky
Photo: Sergey Apenkin, “Championship”
Sergei Nikolaevich himself, of course, was present at the match. He sat in the box and definitely didn’t want attention. However, photographers still captured it. Health problems are making themselves felt. And the information about his deterioration after the game aroused only sympathy. I’m sure the players in this game also played for him. And they really wanted the creator to see the trophy in his hometown. Taking into account the fact that few people understand what kind of team will be next.
“Krasnodar” is facing big changes. Musaev also pointed them out. Some players will leave the team. Defensive leader Alonso will definitely leave. There is a high probability that Safonov will move to Paris. Spertsyan may also be released. The key message: if the players themselves want it, the club will not oppose it. And this fundamentally changes the position that existed before. When Krasnodar became attached to its students and leaders, it strove to build a team around specific people.
Eduard Spertsyan and Matvey Safonov
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
This will not happen anymore. The coach predicted the departure of at least four players. I guess he was referring to the leaders, not the guys on the bench. And, most likely, this list includes Spertsyan and Safonov – the first students who became urban legends. Without a doubt, Galitsky imagined this day differently for them.
It’s great when the people you invest your money and soul in give you a triple emotional boost. They died for it in the field. But they didn’t succeed. It is symbolic that they are now allowed to leave without any obstacles. In fact, this season may have been the last one for Krasnodar, which we are used to. Precisely from the point of view of strategic approaches. And no one knows what the next one will be like. And it is certainly strange to imagine the role that Galitsky will have in all these processes.
***
I’m not sorry for Dynamo. I’m not sorry for Smolov and Shunin, who will probably never hold a cup in their hands. The team miraculously jumped into the race and also flew away. The easiest way is to blame it on the curse: let’s do it that way. But it’s a pity for “Krasnodar”: Safonov, Spertsyan, Musaev, Galitsky. It would be an incredibly beautiful story, one that we can only fantasize about now.
This season the championship was not won. Dynamo lost him yesterday. Krasnodar lost to Akhmat, creating many opportunities. Zenit did not lose it. These guys are too well trained to do what is needed in a crisis. And when he arrived in St. Petersburg, they lit up. And they did their job.
Don’t be surprised if they do it next year too. “Krasnodar” is waiting for a big update. I hope this does not lead to a temporary status of the middle peasant. But do you know what I’m sure of? This club has become so firmly etched into the city’s DNA in a short time that it will surely continue to be loved.
Nonetheless.
It was also sad for these people:
“It looks like I’m going to die and won’t see my team with gold.” Tears and anger at the Dynamo stadium
