“It's about bias”: Byshovets on refereeing in Russia, Zenit issues and Zhirkov's style of play

Zenit lacks balance "

- “Zenith” slurredly began the second half of the season, although some team leaders, including Malcolm, returned to duty. What are the last failures of Petersburgers connected with?

“It cannot be said that Malcolm returned as a leader.” Even Sergei Semak said that at the moment the coaching staff is in search of a place on the field for the Brazilian. Any team is based on the best qualities of their players, on organizing a game that helps them to open up, on combinations that enhance their compatibility. I think this is precisely what Zenit is missing. If you analyze the match with Ufa, you will notice that the positional attack of Petersburgers was devoid of creativity. After illness, Artyom Dziuba is also not always stable and effective on the second floor, especially if his counterpart on the field is of the same height.

- What else is lacking for the current Zenit?

- There is a problem in a positional game when the prerequisites for a counterattack appear. There is no quick switch to defense and opponent control. Do not allow the opponent to save the ball and develop the episode. In this regard, the team lacks balance. As for the specific players, Alexander Erokhin did not realize several points. Although this I would refer to the costs of speaking at the World Cup. It is no coincidence that Dziuba said that he had problems with his physical condition after the mundial.

In addition, age must be considered. Here, Zenit runs the risk of repeating the fate of CSKA after the departure of players such as the Berezutsky brothers. There are no people who would replace them. Yes, there is youth, good foreigners. But it takes time and experience to build a new team based on the result.

- The shortcomings you mentioned are inherent only to Zenith?

- Not. In general, our teams have problems with creativity. In Russia, there are practically no “tenth numbers” that are capable of playing the game, giving it variety and unpredictability. On the one hand, we are talking about organizing the game, and on the other, about using the opponent’s weaknesses.

Yes, in the attack at the same "Zenith" solves Dziuba. But in the middle line there is no football player who would be responsible for the change of emphasis and give the game variety. Hence the lack of quick counterattacks and problems in the defense, which was shown by the match with Ufa.

“Judging must be honest, then there will be no questions”

- Is Krasnodar capable of imposing a Zenit fight in the championship race?

- I think yes. The team had chances last season, but it faced security problems in key matches, such as, for example, with Lokomotiv. I mean the penalty awarded to the gate of Matvey Safonov and the unassigned penalty kick to the goal of Marinato Guillerme. At the same time, we have teams that have everything in order with this.

- For instance?

- CSKA complains about refereeing in Rostov-on-Don, although Vladislav Bezborodov was right in both cases by the letter of the law. So, we are talking about double standards. Do they have the moral right to declare this after the match with Spartak, when Sergey Ivanov threw the “lifebuoys” to the army team, without assigning a penalty to Igor Akinfeev and removing Esekiel Ponce? For some reason everyone is silent about this. I know what I'm talking about, because with me Zenit was an "environmentally friendly" team: we did not have any complaints against the judges, they also did not have us.

- What is the main problem of refereeing in Russia as a whole?

- You need to judge honestly, then there will be no questions. But most importantly - what could be worse than enmity with the “okolofutbolnoy lads”? Only friendship with her. Look, the new head of the refereeing committee has come - and complaints have poured from the very first games. I think Sergey Ivanov was lucky that Spartak won, because otherwise Leonid Fedun would have a great opportunity, following the example of Yevgeny Giner, to offer Viktor Kashshai to leave. So the presidents would continue to dismiss the newly appointed leaders of the judiciary.

- Some believe that the quality of refereeing in Russia is much lower than in other European championships.

“That is not the problem.” Injustice is everywhere. We are talking about bias, the percentage of biased decisions that are not related to quality. This is what determines the level of the championship. And in Russia this number is an order of magnitude higher than in other countries. So, there is a factor of manual control, individual results depend on the actions of the judges. But the problem is not the arbitrators, but the impunity, as in the case of Ivanov. At one time, the presidents of the clubs were indignant and gave a hand. And nothing has changed.

- In your opinion, will VAR take root in Russia ?

- I think the main negative concerns already played moments when the judges after watching the replay decide in favor of the guilty. In my opinion, the chief arbiter should have the rights to review episodes. As for the justice of the system, justice is generally such a thing that practically never occurs in life.

“When Zhirkov is in good shape, there is every reason to consider him the best”

- Do you agree with the opinion that Yuri Zhirkov is the best that has happened with our football in the 21st century?

- Even at the time of Andrei Arshavin and Alexander Kerzhakov, Zhirkov in CSKA, and in the Russian team, was a player who stands out for his effectiveness and the amount of work done. It was for these qualities that he received an invitation to Chelsea. But it is worth remembering that such players as Arshavin or Dziuba always aroused increased interest, a kind of heroization took place. Of course, this does not detract from their merits, but near-football stories increased their recognition. I will give you an example. My grandson did his hair only because everyone at school had one. And I tell him: “A hairstyle is not a head yet”.

- So, Zhirkov is not the football player who is identified by hairstyle?

- Yes, he is a professional. This is also evidenced by the fact that even at age 36, Yuri is still in demand on the domestic market. Yes, the match with Belgium showed that players of the age of Zhirkov should prepare according to an individual plan. But when Yuri is in good shape, there is every reason to consider him the best. Of course, we must consider the player in terms of popularity. Perhaps, in his case, there is no effect. But there is efficiency, which is scored goals. And for our football this is an indicator.