Lovchev compares Kerzhakov with Pavlyuchenko and urges Zenit to improve defensively – Football news
Evgeny Lovchev has rated Zenit St. Petersburg striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roman-Pavlyuchenko-c31639 and said that Kerzhakov will rediscover his old form next season.
“I have observed different players in the Joint tournament. Kerzhakov find it difficult to create anything special. I think he is slowly turning out to be a new version of Pavlyuchenko. But I still think that he has the required skills to regain the footings.
I think he will score goals next season but not too many. I have observed that he is struggling to keep the ball. I'm afraid he will lose a place in the national team. If he will not start working hard and keeps playing like that, I think he will remain on
bench,” the Soviet Top League winner was quoted as saying.
The Russian football sports analyst, meanwhile, urged Zenit to make decent signings in the ongoing summer transfer window in order to improve defensively after the departure of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Igor-Denisov-c16694.
Lovchev warned Kerzhakov, who managed to score 10 goals in 23 league appearances last season, to improve should he want to keep a place in the starting line-ups under http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luciano-c22574 Spalletti next season.
Pavlyuchenko, on the other hand, scored just four goals in 19 league appearances last time around. The Russian striker remained unfit much of the last season after making a swift return to the Moscow-based club from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 31-year-old was originally signed by then-manager, Harry Redknapp, for reportedly 18 million Euros four years ago. However, Pavlyuchenko failed to justify his big price tag after finding it difficult to perform on consistent basis in the English Premier
League.
The former Spartak Moscow player, who built a sound reputation as one of the most feared Russian striker after impressing at Euro 2008, returned to the Russian championship with tarnished reputation.
Speaking on Alves departure, Lovchev said that the St. Petersburg club should sign a decent central defender in order to challenge for the league title next season. Alves joined Turkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce S.K, last month.
Reports in Russian media suggest that Zenit will be without left-back, Domenico Criscito, for the opening two games. The Italian defender is in the treatment room after suffered a hamstring injury.
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