The financial difficulties of Khimki

Staying near Moscow club in the Russian Premier League runs the risk of ending without even starting. As it became known, Khimki is experiencing serious problems in attracting the funds necessary for further performance, which could prevent them from returning to the elite division for the first time since 2009. This was announced by the Minister of Sports of the Moscow Region Roman Teryushkov.

“It is clear that if we talk about Khimki, the situation is difficult, because now all the money goes to support doctors and the formation of a bed fund. Of course, in such a situation, we would not want to enter the Premier League without investors. Now we are discussing this question with them - if we manage to approve the financing by the end of May, we will play in the RPL, if not, we will remain in the FNL, ”TERYushkova quotes TASS.

On May 15, the Russian Football Union (RFU) decided that as a result of the early completion of the FNL championship, tickets to the RPL received “Rotor” and “Khimki”. In the country's top division, the Volgograd and Moscow Region teams must replace its outsiders - teams that took 15th and 16th places, respectively. However, it later became clear that the red-blacks have serious financing problems, which can cost them not only an upgrade, but also lead to a flight to the PF.

In this regard, the question may arise regarding the holder of the second permit in the RPL. At the moment, Chertanovo has the right to count on it, which is in third place in the FNL standings (while Torpedo, which is on the fourth line, is only one point behind). However, the RFU may decide to leave the 15th RPL team in the elite.

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Posted by Khimki Football Club (@fckhimki) May 15, 2020 at 6:54 PDT

Discontent of Moscow teams

While Khimki is looking for a livelihood, the RPL Moscow teams are fighting for the right to begin preparations for the resumption of the championship under equal conditions, which is spelled out in the regulations. Dissatisfaction with the bosses of the clubs was caused by the fact that in some regions the teams were already allowed to train, while in Moscow the quarantine would be valid until at least May 31.

According to Sport-Express, Lokomotiv, CSKA, Dynamo and Spartak asked the Russian Football Union to postpone the start date of classes in the entire league until June 1 or to allow them to return to classes on May 20. In their opinion, otherwise competitors may get more time to prepare and, as a result, approach the final segment of the competition in the best conditions.

Subsequently, the media reported that the authorities of the Moscow region expressed their willingness to provide the clubs in Moscow with the opportunity to train at bases in the Moscow Region. However, official confirmation has not yet been followed, as stated by the former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, a member of the board of directors of Dynamo Sergey Stepashin.

“I only spoke on this subject on Tuesday with the head of the Premier League, Sergei Pryadkin. Because Dynamo can not train in Novogorsk yet - the Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov must make a decision. In the same situation, other Moscow clubs, whose bases are located in the Moscow Region, and CSKA, which is based in New Moscow, in Vatutinki, ”Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted Stepashin as saying.

New infected in Dynamo and Suleymanov’s recovery

The desire of the teams to quickly begin contact training is understandable, but in the RPL the number of players who have had coronavirus or are infected continues to grow. Earlier, COVID-19 was diagnosed by defender Roman Evgeniev and two other players of the Dynamo main squad. In addition, antibodies were found in goalkeeper coach Dmitry Izotov and director of the medical department Alexei Pleskov. Now their list runs the risk of replenishing one of the representatives of the youth team, whose name is not called.

Infected were in the other teams of the Premier League. So, on the eve of the forward of “Krasnodar” Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov confirmed that in May he really had the coronavirus, but managed to cope with the disease.

“Firstly, at the moment I am absolutely healthy, which is confirmed by three tests, the results of which are negative. Secondly, I really suffered this disease caused by a virus. On May 1, I flew to Krasnodar from Makhachkala, registered on the hot line and self-insulated in my apartment for 14 days, did not see anyone or contact, ”Suleymanov said live on Instagram.

According to the athlete, from May 3 to May 4, his temperature rose, he called the doctors and informed the club doctor about his condition. The next morning, they took a test that confirmed infection with coronavirus. Suleimanov admitted that he personally asked Krasnodar not to disseminate information about his illness so as not to disturb relatives.

Meanwhile, tests for coronavirus were passed by representatives of a number of RPL clubs, but only a few of them received results. Coronavirus infected were not detected in CSKA, Ufa, Akhmat, and Krylya Sovetov, while Urals, Akhmat, and Spartak are awaiting the conclusion of doctors.

Extension of the contract with Goncharenko

A month before the final stage of the Russian championship, the situation around the head coach of CSKA Viktor Goncharenko was resolved. Over the past weeks, there have been rumors that a Belarusian specialist may leave his post, but instead he signed a new contract for a period of one year. Thus, the former mentor of BATE and Ufa will remain in the capital until at least 2021.

In the light of rumors about a possible withdrawal from the army, many drew attention to the duration of the new contract with a specialist. The one-year agreement could well mean distrust on the part of CSKA leadership and his unwillingness to bind himself to the coach with long contractual obligations. At the same time, the Belarusian mentor himself admitted that this fact does not bother him.

“In my practice, there were longer contracts - a three-year one, for example. This basically does not affect anything. You work well - you stay. You work poorly - you leave, regardless of the term of the agreement. Everything is simple here, ”Goncharenko said.

General Director of CSKA Roman Babaev also commented on the signing of a new contract with a specialist. According to him, there is nothing strange in the decision to offer Goncharenko a one-year agreement.

“We have a trusting relationship with Goncharenko, so there’s no need to look for a catch. We can agree on everything at any time. We will look at the situation, especially since the times are very difficult now, ”Babayev said.

The contract was also extended by Alexander Kokorin. According to the CEO of Zenit, Alexander Medvedev, the contract with the striker was concluded until the end of this championship.

“Due to the fact that the championships of European championships are played out beyond the original schedule, it has not yet been decided when the next transfer window will be open. The European Club Association and UEFA have recommended extending expiring contracts, both rental and player contracts, in order to maintain the sporting principle. Kokorin's contract ends. In order for him to play for Sochi without any problems, we extend the contract with him for the period of the end of the championship, that is, until the end of July, ”Medvedev explained to the Championship.

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Publication by PFC CSKA Moscow (@pfc_cska) May 20, 2020 at 2:02 PDT

Despotovich’s rise and possible departure of Kuzyaev

Meanwhile, rumors appeared that Gorzhe Despotovich could help Goncharenko compete for a place in the Champions League at the end of this season. According to Hotsport, CSKA has already agreed to sign a contract with the Orenburg forward, whose agreement with the current team expires on June 30, 2020. This season, the Serbian RPL scored eight goals in 20 matches and ranks seventh in the league scorers race.

It was noted that Despotovich would allegedly earn € 1.2 million per year in a new place, and his contract was calculated until 2023. Nevertheless, CSKA denied the invitation.

“This information is not true,” Babayev answered the question of signing a contract with the player.

Moscow Lokomotiv is also thinking of reinforcing the composition. It is noted that railroad workers and several other Premier League clubs show interest in the Heracles midfielder and the national team of Kazakhstan, Alexander Merkel, who began his career in Milan and played in youth and youth teams of Germany of all ages.

Information also appeared that the Zenit midfielder and the Russian national team Daler Kuzyaev could continue his career in Europe. According to the “Championship”, the player does not intend to renew the contract with the Petersburgers and is going to try his hand at one of the Old World championships.