The previous season was not the most successful for Lokomotiv Moscow.
The team, torn by controversy, which changed three head coaches in a year, took only sixth place in the RPL standings.
However, in the new national championship draw, she has everything to at least finish in the top three.
A serious advantage of the railroad over competitors was that they retained almost all legionnaires.
Only the Czech striker Jan Kuchta left Russia, but the club received €1 million from Sparta for his one-year lease.
The losses of other domestic giants are much more serious.
The main central defender Fabian Balbuena and the key midfielder Sebastian Szymanski left Dynamo.
With a high degree of probability, the defensive midfielder Nicola Moreau will follow their example.
CSKA lost one of the most technical Premier League players Chidera Ejuke and Arnor Sigurdsson, Spartak lost Guus Thiel, Alex Kral and Jordan Larsson, and Zenit lost Brazilian striker Yuri Alberto.
At the same time, there are enough foreigners in the red-greens (eight).
Five of them represent Europe, where, as is commonly believed, there is pressure on athletes performing in Russia, but almost all of them managed to reach an agreement.
So, the Dutchman Girano Kerk said that he did not intend to leave.
The Frenchman Wilson Isidore supported him.
“At the moment I feel great at Lokomotiv.
I am very pleased to be here.
I hope this will continue in the future, ”the Championship quotes the words of the athlete.
It is noteworthy that in March, when FIFA for the first time allowed legionnaires to suspend the validity of agreements with Russian clubs, Lokomotiv was left only without the Brazilian Pablo.
However, he did not go on a free loan, but moved to Flamengo for €2.8 million.
Moreover, in the summer, Muscovites acquired two new foreigners.
It was possible to pointwise strengthen individual problematic positions.
For example, after the departure of Pablo and the injury of Stanislav Magkeev, the team experienced serious difficulties in the center of defense.
The duet of Tin Yedvay and Mark Mampassi acted unreliably, and the young native of Donetsk, who simply lacked the experience of performing at such a level, made a large number of mistakes.
It got to the point that Dmitry Barinov was forced to descend into this zone.
As a result, in the spring, the red-greens conceded 24 goals in all tournaments.
Lucas Fasson's transition should solve this problem.
In his person, Marvin Compper received not only a versatile performer capable of closing almost any position in defense, but also a man who owns an excellent first pass.
Also, the Brazilian immediately showed himself as a driving player.
In friendly matches, he, regularly connecting to the set pieces, hit the gates of Veles and Dynamo.
The fans were hardly pleased with the departure of Kukhta, who quickly became the leader of the railway workers and scored three goals in the spring.
However, the club even earlier signed a contract with another striker Marko Rakognac.
It is difficult to say how quickly he will be able to adapt to the RPL, but last season the striker scored nine goals in the Serbian championship.
In addition, with his appearance, the team has more variability in attack.
Unlike Isidore and Francois Camano, the Montenegrin has other strong qualities - power and high growth (192 cm).
Accordingly, he is able to cling to the ball great and carry out discounts for fast partners in free zones.
Such a performer is also useful when it is required to break open the opponent’s saturated defense.
In the Russian Championship, teams of the Loko level often have to solve this problem.
It is also important that both Fasson and Racognac are young (21 and 22 years old respectively) and acquired for the future.
And in case of a successful game in Moscow, they may well go to a stronger league, giving Muscovites a chance to earn on themselves.
Thus, the club in the transfer market continues to operate in accordance with the strategy developed by Ralf Rangnick.
Together with a pinpoint gain, red-green managed to keep almost all the leaders.
The exception was Maciej Rybus.
It was difficult to imagine the left flank of Loko's defense in recent years without an experienced Pole.
However, he did not renew the contract and, as a free agent, moved to Spartak.
On the other hand, the loss of a defender cannot be called critical.
Firstly, in August he will turn 33, and therefore it is impossible to consider a legionnaire as a leader for a long-term period, especially in a rather energy-intensive position that requires excellent physical readiness and high speed.
Secondly, 23-year-old Nair Tiknizyan is able to take his place almost without loss of quality.
Last season, he was boldly trusted by Marko Nikolic, Markus Gisdol, and Compper.
There was a lot of talk about Barinov's possible departure to Europe or a move to Dynamo, but the defensive midfielder remained.
And the sports director of the club, Thomas Zorn, stressed that he was not going to let him go anywhere.
“Barinov is our key player, the leader of the team.
We do not intend to consider proposals for its sale or lease, ”the Sport24 official quotes.
Thus, the only loss before the start of the season was Rifat Zhemaletdinov.
The midfielder, who designs the team's attacks, suffered a serious Achilles injury at the training camp and will miss seven to nine months.
Its importance for Muscovites is difficult to overestimate.
For example, last RPL season he scored nine goals and gave seven assists.
The long-awaited return of Anton Miranchuk, who finally solved all his health problems, will make his absence a little less painful.
At the end of the previous Premier League draw, he appeared on the field five times and even converted a penalty in the confrontation with Rubin.
In summary, Lokomotiv has one of the most balanced squads in the league, if you do not take Zenit into account.
The goalkeeper's position is closed by the club's veteran Marinato Guilherme and young Daniil Khudyakov.
In the center of defense, the headquarters has a fairly rich choice of Jedvay, Magkeev, Fasson, Mampassi and Vitaly Lystsov, who returned from loan at Akhmat.
Tiknizyan, Dmitry Zhivoglyadov and Maxim Nenakhov can play on the flanks of the defense.
The center of the field is staffed by Barinov, Konstantin Maradishvili, Alexis Beka-Beka and Daniil Kulikov.
In addition, we must not forget about the young Maxim Petrov, Artyom Krapukas and Sergey Babkin, who regularly receive playing time.
Anton Miranchuk is ready to play in the position of "tens".
But in the attack there is less competition.
In any case, the positions of Kerk and Isidore on the edges of the attack look unshakable.
At the same time, Francois Camano is able to play both on both flanks and on the edge.
It is no coincidence that information appeared in the media about the interest of Muscovites in Ivan Ignatiev, who terminated the contract with Rubin, and Marius Bulter, who plays for the German Schalke.
Another attacking red-green obviously does not hurt.
But in the summer, Lokomotiv strengthened the coaching team.
Josef Zinnbauer became the de jure mentor of the team.
However, this appointment is nominal, since Compper does not have the required license, while the compatriot does.
But the specialist is still able to be useful, because he is considered a strong motivator.
Otherwise, it is rather important that the railway workers unexpectedly managed without scandals and calmly spent the off-season, having worked competently on the transfer market.
It is not surprising that the club is now set up in the most serious way.
“I want to win a team that considers itself a leader.
Zenit is not an opponent that cannot be beaten.
We are not afraid of him.
In France, for example, Lille and Monaco have recently become champions.
Why don't we do it?
We can throw the Petersburgers off the pedestal, ”Izidor expressed confidence.