SportfootballPremier League
Glushakov: Spartak in disarray, Stankovic under psychological pressure.
The familiar scent of crisis is once again permeating the halls of the Spartak Moscow football club, a scent as recognizable to its long-suffering faithful as the smell of cut grass on match day. Denis Glushakov, a former midfield linchpin for the club, has delivered a damning indictment of the current regime under manager Dejan Stankovic, painting a picture of a team in profound psychological disarray.Glushakov’s analysis cuts deeper than mere poor form; he describes a squad ‘without management,’ a ship adrift where the captain’s frantic shouting from the technical area is merely ‘dust in the eyes’ obscuring a fundamental breakdown in structure and belief. This isn't just a slump; it's a systemic failure reminiscent of the chaotic cycles that have plagued this historic Russian giant for years, a club whose potential is perpetually weighed down by internal turbulence.Stankovic, who initially brought a wave of optimism with a vibrant style of play last autumn, now appears a man buckling under the immense pressure, trapped in a ‘hole’ from which Glushakov sees no easy escape. The Serbian manager’s animated presence on the sideline, once interpreted as passion, is now viewed as a symptom of a leader who has lost the tactical and motivational plot.The statistics tell a stark story of their own: languishing in 6th place with a meager 22 points from 14 matches is a position wholly unacceptable for a club of Spartak’s stature, a club that views itself as a perennial contender for the Russian Premier League title. The parallels to other fallen giants are hard to ignore; it brings to mind the latter days of Louis van Gaal at Manchester United or the final, fractious moments of Antonio Conte at Chelsea, where the manager’s message no longer resonates and the players’ body language on the pitch screams of a broken collective spirit.Glushakov’s skepticism about a mid-season change, citing a lack of ‘logic’ with the winter break and transfer window approaching, is a pragmatic but grim acceptance of a holding pattern. This delay, however, is a double-edged sword.It provides a temporary reprieve for Stankovic but also extends the period of instability, potentially allowing the rot to set in deeper before a new coaching staff can attempt to rebuild the ‘training process’ for the spring campaign. The critical question becomes: what happens in the dressing room during this limbo? Can a manager who has ostensibly lost the confidence of his key players effectively recruit new talent or instill any semblance of discipline? The upcoming transfer window is now fraught with risk; any signings made under this cloud of uncertainty could be misaligned with the philosophy of a future coach, creating further long-term complications.For the fans, the ‘kishish’ or commotion Glushakov references is a painful echo of the past, a reminder of the club’s enduring struggle to find stability and build a project that lasts more than a single season. The soul of Spartak Moscow is on the line once more, and the resolution of this latest crisis will define not just their standing in this year’s table, but their identity for years to come.
#featured
#Spartak Moscow
#Dejan Stankovic
#coaching crisis
#team performance
#Russian Premier League
#Denis Glushakov
