Hat-trick, captain's armband and rental in Sochi: Kokorin spent the first game after his release

Goal heel and rout

The first match after returning from the colony turned out to be more than successful for Alexander Kokorin. “Zenith” in a friendly meeting at the training camp in Qatar defeated the local “Al-Uvaynah” with a score of 10: 0, and the attacker scored a hat-trick and gave the assist. At the same time, the forward entered the field with a captain's armband.

All goals of Kokorin turned out to be different. In the debut of the game, he opened the scoring with a neat shot from the penalty area. After only three minutes, Alexander was marked by a beautiful heel strike. Finally, shortly before the break, he closed the canopy with his head from the left flank.

📺 Executed with ease 👊

2-0 | #ZenitAlUwaynah | # GazpromTrainingCamppic.twitter.com / DXDqglx0NE

Forward to the second half did not come out, but Zenit continued beating the opponent without him, and Serdar Azmun managed to arrange a hat-trick. Of course, the fans should not be serious about this rout, because this was the first match of the team in the offseason with an obviously inferior opponent in the class. Al-Uweinah is not even a team of Qatar’s elite division.

However, the performance of Kokorin caused a particular resonance against the background of information about his departure to rent in Sochi. The media wrote about this transition as early as Tuesday morning, although Sergei Semak, the head coach of Petersburgers, repeatedly emphasized that the team needed Kokorin.

But soon the information was confirmed in Sochi. The club noted that Alexander will act as part of the team until the end of the current season. At the same time, “Zenith” did not say anything about the lease of Kokorin. And after a couple of hours, to the surprise of the fans, he got into the starting lineup for the match with Al-Uvaynakh.

Alexander Kokorin on loan will play for Sochi until the end of the 2019/20 RPL season. pic.twitter.com/gJFGVXTryl

“What the hell are you giving Kokorin to? He's the best"

And after the hat-trick of the striker, the fans of St. Petersburg launched an action on social networks with a call to leave Kokorin in the team. On Instagram, some wrote to Semak asking for clarification of the situation. The specialist did not remain silent and emphasized that the team still needs Alexander.

To the question of one of the fans about whether Semak changed his point of view regarding the striker, the coach said: “I haven’t changed it. Kokorin we need. "

Another fan wrote a much more angry commentary under one of Semak's posts: “What the hell are you giving Kokorin to? He's the best. Are you all crazy? We have been waiting for his return. ”

To this, the coach replied that this question was asked at the wrong address. A little later, Semak admitted that the player was upset by the news about the rental in Sochi, and went on the field, because the team trusts him.

“My attitude towards him has not changed. He is the footballer who is able to strengthen our team, the footballer that we need. He proves it in every training session and proved it in today's match. The fact that today he entered the field with a captain's armband is the trust on the part of the team first of all. The guys wanted to support Alexander, and I am proud of the team that they are together with Sasha, we are all together with Sasha. And then we will do what we should do, ”the official website of Zenit quotes Semak.

Possible rent Kokorin surprised his loved ones. In particular, the athlete's stepfather Kirill Loginov admitted that he himself did not expect such a development of events.

“What is happening with Sasha’s rental?” The first question of Sochi is: did he come to them to gather? Let them say when they arrive. As for the return to Zenit, as I understand it, he is still at the training camp with Zenit, where should he return to? ”The man noted.

Kokorin’s stepfather also confirmed that Alexander’s agreement with Zenit expires in the summer.

“If what he has can be called a contract - then yes, it ends in the summer. As for the words of Semak, that the club counts on Kokorin, Sergey Bogdanovich is a decent person and a professional. He is a great specialist. It makes sense to listen to his opinion, ”Loginov added.

But in Sochi they once again confirmed that Kokorin should arrive at the location of the team in the near future.

“Everything has already been written and voiced. Is he playing for Zenit right now? And who said that at the moment he is in the location of Sochi? Yes, Petersburgers have not announced the lease of Kokorin, but the transfer window is open. Doesn't Semak want to let him go? Why are you calling me? Ask Semak about his wishes, ”cites the words of the general director of the southerners Dmitry Rubashko“ Championship ”.

“Very reminiscent of the story of Streltsov”

In the football and fan community, Kokorin’s possible rent in Sochi was treated differently. So, the famous commentator Gennady Orlov noted that it will be another challenge for the football player.

“In order not to give up and not break, but to fight for his place in football!” Of course, the guy will lose time. Apparently, this is a consequence of his conclusion. Very reminiscent of the story of Eduard Streltsov. He was also not allowed to play after prison. Well, what to do. Let him show his character, prove. Artyom Dziuba went to Tula and managed to prove that he was worthy of the Russian team. So such challenges may be useful for our Russian peasant, ”Sport Express quotes Orlova.

A well-known blogger and journalist Vasily Utkin noted that such a transition only confirms: Alexander is “in perfect order”, since in Sochi he and his team have to solve the difficult task of maintaining a place in the RPL.

“I trust the words of those who talked about Kokorin’s good form and predicted his successful return to his playing level. The only thing that was doubtful about these expectations was what everyone understood as “Kokorin’s own level”. This concept became concrete only when it came to the number of stars in a hotel or the degree of luxury of a car, otherwise, how many people, so many levels of Kokorin, ”Utkin wrote in his Telegram channel.

And the former coach of the Russian national team, Dick Advocaat, expressed regret that the striker did not transfer to him in the Dutch Feyenoord.

“It’s a pity that Kokorin chose Sochi, and not us, because I would really like to work with him, but I understand him. Sochi is a pleasant city, there is no such pressure on the club, the guy remains in a comfortable environment. I can only wish Kokorin good luck. This is one of the best Russian football players. He made such a choice - he has the right, ”quotes the words of the Sport Express attorney.