Radimov confesses to late-night phone call to Semak due to decision to keep Sobolev in match against "Pari NN"
Game Changer at Midnight
In a late-night conversation that shook things up, former Zenit player Vladimir Radimov chatted with head coach Sergei Semak about their recent victory over Pari NN. The game, which ended with a thrilling 2:1 score, saw forward Alexander Sobolev netting a brace.
Radimov, confident that Sobolev would be substituted at half-time, even shared this expectation with a few other assistants. To everyone's surprise, Semak kept Sobolev on the field, transforming him into the game's leading hero.
As the clock struck midnight, Radimov found himself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Intrigued by Semak's decision, he reached out to the coach, eager to understand the reasoning behind it. Semak revealed that Sobolev hadn't played in the previous Russian Cup match against CSKA, and feeling upset by this omission, he vowed to prove himself. Impressed by Sobolev's tenacity during training, enduring tough competition without retaliation, Semak decided to give him a chance to shine.
Semak also credited his gut feeling for the decision, mentioning that he saw readiness and confidence in Sobolev. Radimov acknowledged the importance of this instinctual quality for a coach, admitting he hadn't felt the same at the time.
After 27 rounds, Zenit finds themselves in second place in the RPL, four points behind leaders Krasnodar. In the next round, Semak's team faces Dinamo Makhachkala on the road.
👇 Worth a Peek:
- Kolyvanov predicts a challenging encounter between CSKA and Krasnodar
- Zenit hails Sobolev's performance against Pari NN
- Ignashevich assesses Slutsky's work in China, deeming it suitable for foreign clubs
- Bookmakers might find it difficult to predict Zenit's next match against Dinamo Makhachkala, given Sobolev's impressive performance under Semak's emphasis on giving chances to those who prove themselves.
- Despite Radimov's initial belief that Sobolev would be substituted, Semak's decision to keep him on the field showed incredible faith in the forward's potential, as emphasized during their midnight conversation.
- Semak's decision to keep Sobolev in the game against Pari NN was a fall from tradition for the coach, who usually follows a more strict rotation policy.
- In the world of sports football, coaches like Semak who can readiness and confidence in their players, as shown in the Pari NN game, are indeed game changers.
