Undoubtedly, CSKA is the most successful Russian team in recent years. It’s not even a matter of trophies, the listing of which, by the way, will take a fair amount of time. Yevgeny Giner and Valery Gazzaev received bouquets of compliments to the game, the stable composition and reasonable selection, more than once. And rightfully so. The calm of the army team in the last rounds of last year’s championship of Russia, the games of the group stage of the Champions League and Channel One Cup invariably went hand in hand with the result. Of course, not without suspicion of a slight atrophy of the command will - after all, they scored points with Spartak equally, did not leave the group, and got a million at the last minute.
However, even CSKA, which switched from a gallop to a lynx, nevertheless overcame barriers, not allowing to doubt the professionalism of the jockey. The army team left the field of autumn Eurobatals with losses, but it was a sin to blame those who failed to jump above their heads - the bar of the class of rivals was raised above nowhere. But the team did not bother to look underfoot, although it was obliged: hence the confusion with the necessary number of points for the playoffs, and the “agreement” of “Porto” - “Arsenal”, and now - a two-round defeat from “Maccabi”.
Valery Gazzayev lost both matches. In the first, everything was simpler - either a slight euphoria from a visit to the homeland, or a serious resentment against Guus Hiddink caused the opponent to be underestimated. CSKA coach did not want to once again strain the team, preferring to solve everything on the Promised Land, which has already become happy for the army team this year. However, he underestimated the opponent for the second time. Gazzaev simply had to figure out the option with a quick goal by Maccabi - it could be trivial not to get lucky with a rebound or a random penalty. CSKA went to the match as if confident in the impregnability of Akinfeev's goal. How the army team is going to play, it became clear from the first minutes: to load the left flank, building attacks through Zhirkov, Carvalho and Jo. But what they will do, having conceded a goal, was not clear. And it didn’t turn out until the final whistle.
The goal actually came out a little illogical. After all, Alexey Berezutsky has just completed an absolutely clean, but potentially dangerous tackle from behind in his own penalty box, knocking the ball to the corner. And with this one action he expressed some unshakable confidence in the game class - his own and the whole team. It immediately became calm. The feed went to the far post, and then Akinfeev for some reason climbed to jump Jo, Masudi struck the post, and finished off Kolautti. But the goal was not too discouraged. On the contrary, I put everything in its place: score the answer - and play on hold. Easy to say, but hard to do? Sorry, but a team should solve problems of this level in a match with such an opponent. Otherwise, why all this long-term construction, spot selection and “long-term work” - only to beat Spartak?
Gazzaev’s reaction did not follow. Yes, shortly after the goal, the army team played a good free kick (beat Aldonin), Zhirkov cut an excellent pass on the head of Berezutsky. Yes, one can recall the judge's foul foul of Rafaelov and Harazi’s hand in the penalty area. But all that the steering red-blue did in the first half - he sent Chambéras for a walk from the right to the left flank. For five minutes. The appearance of the Lithuanian in the starting line-up can still be explained - the left wing of the Maccabi played too well in the first match, especially the defender Magrashvili. But there was no place for the expected post-perestroika restructuring of CSKA Moscow. Nevertheless, Gazzaev left the attack with a black wing.
The players struggled to outweigh the coaching inaction. But only unrealized moments fell into their chalice: Jo crowned a one-on-one exit with a shot at the goalkeeper, Carvalho struck his head above the goal, and Aldonin missed from a lethal position. The details have finally come together: a stable and organized team cannot solve the most difficult task. And he is defeated, cutting himself off from a prestigious tournament with a high level of motivation. Here we come to the main thing: will CSKA and Gazzayev have an incentive to progress? It is possible that to succeed in the national championship, a slow Carvalho, a young man Ramon, three defenders and two forwards will suffice. CSKA can no longer get into a challenge situation, which must be overcome - and, overcoming, grow. It seems that in the fall the team led by the coach went into hibernation and did not really want to get out of it. Wish them good night?
MAKKABI Hf Israel - CSKA Russia - 1: 0 (1: 0)
Goal: 1: 0 - Colautti (14).
CSKA: Akinfeev, Ignashevich, A. Berezutsky, V. Berezutsky, Rakhimich, Dudu, Scheberas (Krasic, 75), Aldonin (Ramon, 70), Zhirkov, Carvalho, Jo.
MAKKABI: Davidovich, Magrashvili, Keynan, Kharazi, Anderson, Shavir, Meshumar, Bokkoli, Masudi (Gazal, 74), Rafaelov (Arbeitman, 88), Kolautti (Hemad, 90 + 3).
Warnings: Meshumar (17), emberas (32), Aldonin (54), Magrashvili (60).
February 22. Blumfeld. Tel Aviv. 21.45
Judge: Gerhard Lechner (Austria).