“He has run out of patience”: what is known about the possible resignation of CSKA head coach Goncharenko

Sergey Ovchinnikov will temporarily take the post of head coach of the capital CSKA instead of Viktor Goncharenko. This became known on Monday evening.

“Due to the poor health of the head coach Viktor Goncharenko, who felt unwell on Saturday and therefore did not take part in the press conference after the match with Zenit, the head coach Sergey Ovchinnikov will prepare the team for the meeting with Dynamo,” - said in a statement on the official website of CSKA.

Meanwhile, there is an assumption that in the near future the Belarusian specialist is going to leave his post altogether, and the club management is now trying to buy time to persuade him to stay.

The first rumors about the resignation appeared immediately after the match of the 23rd round of the RPL with Zenit, in which CSKA was defeated with a score of 0: 4. After the final whistle, Goncharenko never appeared before reporters. Ovchinnikov said that the specialist has increased pressure. However, subsequently the media reported that the head coach allegedly flew to his homeland.

After the defeat, many experts criticized CSKA and the coaching staff for the poor physical condition of the players, the lack of balance and the unwillingness to resume the championship after a break associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The most harsh criticism of Goncharenko was made by the famous agent Dmitry Selyuk.

He accused the trainer of racism, pointing out that in the last two matches he prefers to defend the young players and does not let his client, Ivorian defender Cedric Gogua, enter the field. In addition, Selyuk urged Goncharenko to resign and noted that his level is the teams of the championship of Belarus.

CSKA defended the specialist. The press service called the agent’s statements “inappropriate attacks” and “baseless and far-fetched accusations.”

“His actions are even more outrageous in the light of the fact that the team has a football player whose interests he represents. Probably, it was the desire of the agent that prompted the pressure on the club and the coaching staff. But we and, we believe, the vast majority of fans are not interested in the opinion of Mr. Selyuk on football issues. CSKA reserves the right to take measures prescribed by law to protect the interests of the club and the coaching staff, ”the club said in a statement.

On Sunday, the media reported that Goncharenko intends to leave CSKA of his own free will. Allegedly, he wrote a statement, and also announced his departure as a ward, although the players themselves did not confirm this information. And on Monday, the coach did not participate in the team meeting, which is why the latter had to be canceled. The evening lesson was led by his assistants Valery Ovchinnikov and Viktor Onopko.

It was also reported that the club’s leadership was attempting to persuade a specialist to stay until the end of the 2019/20 season. However, many suggested that the letter of resignation was written on emotions.

“Cool and come back. This is an emotional moment. Now his story in CSKA should not end: one match has played - and so what, leave immediately? He prepared the players for the resumption of the season. Yes, Ovchinnikov can replace him, but now Viktor Mikhailovich is guided by feelings. On his part, this will be the wrong step. Maybe he expects this will shake up the team, but it is unlikely, ”suggested Roman Shirokov, ex-midfielder of the Russian national team.

At the same time, some experts understand the position of Goncharenko. According to the former red-blue striker Valery Masalitin, claims about his possible resignation should be presented to the club management.

“He is trying to convey his philosophy to the young guys, rested in these three central ones and did not back down. Although she needs defenders - chain dogs, like Ignashevich. The scheme does not work, the results have gone down. Goncharenko asked for reinforcement, but no money, the club asked him to work like that. His patience has ended, he can’t do anything else with this squad, ”the Championship quotes Masalitin.

It is worth noting that the defeat of “Zenith” reduced the chances of CSKA in the fight for getting into the Champions League, and also called into question the participation of the team in European competitions for the next season. In the last 12 matches with Goncharenko, she scored only 11 points, and in the last six she can’t win at all - from November 24, 2019, when they barely managed to get the better of Wings of the Soviets (1: 0).

Goncharenko has been in office since December 2016. Under his leadership, CSKA won the silver of the Russian Championship twice, and in the 2017/18 season showed one of the best results on the international scene in recent times. The team took third place in the group stage of the Champions League, but reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League, where they lost to London Arsenal.

After the departure of a number of leaders, the red-blue had to face a change of generations, and their results declined. Despite two victories over Real Madrid in the 2018/19 season, the wards of Goncharenko were not able to get into the European Cup spring, and took fourth place in the RPL. This season, CSKA also did not leave the Europa League group. After 23 rounds, the team takes fifth place in the standings of the championship of Russia, losing two points to “Rostov”.

Over the past year, tensions between Goncharenko and the club management have been repeatedly reported, and at the end of April there was information that he would leave his post at the end of the season. General Director Roman Babaev denied this information, and in May it became known that the specialist contract was extended for another year.