Sergei Vedeneyev believes that Zenit St. Petersburg would have won the Russian Premier League tie against Terek had Spalletti not made the questionable changes
Former Zenit Leningrad player, Sergei Vedeneyev, has expressed his dissatisfaction over Zenit St. Petersburg’s latest defeat against Terek Grozny in the Russian Premier League at Petrovsky stadium.
Vedeneyev is of the belief that the defending league champions failed to control the tempo of the game after their head coach, Luciano Spalletti, made three questionable substitutions during the second-half of the match.
Zenit conceded two second-half goals after the Italian tactician replaced http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergei-Semak-c32976 on 46, 69 and 78 minutes respectively.
Vedeneyev revealed that Spalletti was wrong to hand over debuts to multi-million buys, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Renat-Yanbayev-c30821.
The Russian national went on to tell that Zenit would have won the match had Spalletti played a more composed defender instead of Yanbayev, who joined the St. Petersburg club on a season-long loan spell from Lokomotiv Moscow this
summer.
“I think Spalletti failed in his tactics and it’s my personal opinion. I think he made unnecessary replacements. I do not know why he substituted Fayzulin, who was playing well in the first half.”
“When Zenit needed speed and fast attack, he introduced Semak in the game. I think there was no real need to play Witsel and I believe Spalletti will be regretting his decision too.” The Russian Championship winner was quoted as
saying.
Vedeneyev ruled out Zenit of progressing to the later stages of the UEFA Champions League, saying that though they have made top class signings but they will struggle to reach the later stages of the tournament if they continue
with the defensive mistakes in Europe.
“I do not think that Zenit are the favourites in the Champions League anymore. They need to improve their home form if they are to have any chances in Europe.” he concluded.
Zenit have been drawn against AC Milan, Malaga CF and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RSC-Anderlecht-c40394 in the group stages of the continental tournament this season.
Tags: