Lucas Vera disclosed the causes for skipping training sessions at the "Chemka" facility.
Earning a Bonus Amid Turmoil
Footballer Lucas Vera of Khimki opens up to SE about the team's abrupt training halt before facing Zenit (0:1). He explains it as a united stand against the situation, yet praises the team's grit on the pitch against Zenit and Akron (2:2).
While not all players agreed with the boycott—Ilya Sadikhov opted to train with the youth team instead—Vera stresses respect for each player's choice. Following their discussion with Tuphan Sadikhov and Alexander Alaev, Vera prefers to concentrate on football rather than the drama unfolding off the pitch.
Post the 26th round of the championship, Khimki sits in 12th place with 25 points.
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Khimki, plagued by internal strife, staged a training boycott before their encounter with Zenit in the Russian Premier League. The root cause was the long-standing unpaid salaries since January 2023, fueling widespread discontent within the team. This predicament was further exacerbated by the sacking of their coach, Frank Artiga, who had supported the players' pay demands[2][3].
Due to the main squad's refusal to train under the interim head coach, Magomed Adiev, Khimki's match preparation for Zenit was compromised. With a half-hearted team, Khimki struggled against Zenit, ultimately losing 1-0. Though they managed to limit Zenit's scoring opportunities, their performance was far from impressive[4].
Overall, Khimki's financial woes and questionable management have impacted the team's morale and performance, leading to a string of poor results in the Russian Premier League. This ordeal underscores the challenges smaller clubs face in upholding stability and competitive edge in professional leagues.
- Bookmakers across European-leagues are keeping a close eye on Khimki's ongoing internal strife, as unpaid salaries since January 2023 and the sacking of coach Frank Artiga have affected the team's morale and performance.
- Lucas Vera, a member of Khimki, discussed the team's training boycott before their encounter with Zenit, highlighting it as a united stand against the unpaid salaries and Saddikhov's preference for training with the youth team.
- Khimki currently sits in 12th place in the Russian Premier League (RPL) after the 26th round, with 25 points, a reflection of the team's recent struggles on the pitch.
- In an effort to concentrate on football and divert attention from the off-pitch drama, Vera, along with team members Tuphan Sadikhov and Alexander Alaev, preferred to focus on upcoming games rather than the boycott conversation.
- Despite the controversy, Khimki will face Akron in their next RPL match, raising questions about their ability to maintain competitive edge amidst the financial woes and management changes affecting the team.
