At the RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, the time for matches between CSKA, Spartak and Lokomotiv came very timely. Why in a timely manner? Yes, because in time for the right number of the calendar, the entire championship in its main intrigue can be represented as their triple duel.
The rest are behind. CSKA, Loko and Spartak have established themselves as leaders of Russian football, the most stable for several years and the strongest today.
For our championship, such an elite is absolutely necessary. You can even consider that the last five or six seasons have been devoted to its formation. No, no, it never happens forever. You can break into the elite, you can drop out of the elite, and status membership never insures against falls and crises. But the duration and stability of being at the top is a kind of quality mark. The outcome of the Russian championship directly depends on the results of matches between these teams. No one fourth will encroach on the title.
Elite formation is a stage of development. For several years in a row we said, for example, that, on the one hand, our championship is clearly adding, and on the other, the results in European competitions are not improving dramatically. Well and, accordingly, the notorious coefficient does not grow. Meanwhile, not the last reason for this state of affairs was the internal instability of the championship. The teams that achieved success last season did not withstand the two-front battle in the next fight, and the next season a completely new representative, deprived of experience, appeared in the cups, and the winner of the previous season, it happened, was sent to the lower division. Similarly, local failure in a given year could cost a large club a serious reduction in investment a year later.
Now we can safely say that these times are over. The Russian Championship remains a difficult tournament, where points are lost in matches with everyone, but it turns out that there is a certain host of greats, there is their retinue - teams that are eager to take one of their places, and there are those that position can only dream.
Outside the brackets remains the “Zenith”. Of course, the club’s megabudget gives reason to rely on progress at any given time. However, I would like to draw attention to this detail: yes, a lot has changed in Zenit this season. But after all, Spartak and Loko changed their head coach. And nothing, they had a margin of safety, but the Zenith - no. This despite the fact that, in contrast to the Moscow objects of comparison, the St. Petersburg club has become much richer.
Ok so there is the top three. Who is who in it?
CSKA is a clear cause, leader and hegemon. In the end, losing from time to time including Lokomotiv (over the past two years, the ratio of meetings in favor of the railroad is so obvious that it can even surprise), it was the army team who won everything in Russia for the second year in a row. Quantitatively, this, of course, is not nine Romanesque championships, but in modern competitive conditions the result is outstanding.
Spartak is once a grand, now trying to restore the past. The role is complex, it always has more advisers than real figures. In Italy, for example, Inter stands out in a similar way, and the only thing that is not lacking is advice. Which, alas, do not bring glory.
Who is Loko here? Historically, this predator is the youngest. He does not have to look back to match something, he can take on any appearance. This year, Lokomotiv’s affiliation with the notorious elite is especially symptomatic, as the club has replaced the dynasty leading the team - Yuri Semin, who ruled for almost two decades, has left with a short break. And it turned out that even with the rather controversial leadership of Slavo Muslin, the team did not fall. She stands, not only that - she is fighting for the titles at exactly the same chances that were considered excellent at this stage of the season and for Semin times. Lokomotiv is in ambush. It seems that this club has the greatest opportunities to add. Now, in a year, at any moment. This club is Mr. X.
You can join the big three. You can fall out of it. True, both the one and the other process will certainly be lengthy. The main thing is that we have it. Without a hierarchy, there is no big tournament. Its presence suggests that the history of the tournament is becoming more logical and that the fame in it is worth a lot. Much more than the precious cervical kruglyashi themselves called medals, and the honorary champagne packaging are super- and just goblets.
Vasily UTKIN