Football expert Alexander Mostovoy in an exclusive interview for the online publication “Euro-Futbol.Ru” spoke about the progress of Manfred Ugalde and the immediate prospects of the “red-whites”.
– Was Ugalde a revelation for you this season? Still, the second half of last season was a disaster.
– Yes, this is a discovery. The year we bought him, we took a closer look at him, and it was clear that the guy was not bad and he had many good qualities. Perhaps he lacks the power and size for a striker, but he excels in other ways: good speed, movement, opening. And he fights well against big defenders. It is difficult to take the ball away from him, he covers it well with his body. This season, Manfred is great, he opens up.
– Many were confused by its price.
– Me too. We didn’t know who Ugalde was. But I said back then that they paid a lot of money for it for a reason. They were following him.
– Now the cost of Ugalde no longer seems overpriced? He is 22 years old, and for sure he can make good money selling it.
– In any case, it was overpriced. When we talk about transfers to our country, the price is always too high. This is how everyone makes money. Where can you sell it? It’s unlikely that anyone will pay 30 million for it. And so he feels good here too. He has a good salary.
– Spartak hasn’t had such forwards for a long time. Who can you compare Ugalde with in terms of playing style?
– I wouldn’t compare him with anyone.
– Sobolev’s departure clearly benefited Ugalda, unlike Alexander himself. Do you think he made a mistake with his move to Zenit?
– Of course not. Why did you miscalculate? He will become the champion of Russia. At Zenit, eight people sit on the bench and receive gold medals, entering the field in two or three matches. I have never seen anyone in football in my life. It happens that a person scores two goals, and then walks around with his nose up. Horror! Sobolev did the right thing. He plays for Zenit and will become a champion.
– Spartak already has four victories in a row in the championship with a total score of 13:2, but there is a match with Krasnodar away ahead. The Bulls are yet to lose this season. What does Spartak need to do to win?
– If you rewind a little, after the unsuccessful match between Spartak and Krasnodar in Moscow, everyone began to criticize Stankovic. I said that this happens. And the next meeting for the “red-whites” was with CSKA. I say: “Spartak will take it and beat the army team, and what will you say then?” Nobody believed it. They said that CSKA is fine now, that Nikolic is there. We like to say that, especially those who see football from the trees or from the top floors of Moscow City. And Spartak took and beat the army team. And all those who were making noise became quiet. I say: “Wait, now we’ll beat Lokomotiv.” And the team did it. As a result, four victories in a row. Everyone closed their mouths. Nikolic has already become bad, Galaktionov is not like that. At the end of the season we’ll see what happens. I remain of the opinion that Spartak with this squad should be in the top three.
– The gap between Stankovic’s team and the leading Zenit is 8 points. Maybe we can really aim for the highest place?
– Certainly. Everything is still possible. Now in the match with Krasnodar a lot will be decided. If the “red-whites” win, everyone will sing differently.
– Then there is a chance to beat Lokomotiv in the next round.
– Lokomotiv is a surprise team. He shouldn’t be in the top three. It already has glitches. “Krasnodar” beat him, “Spartak” beat him. In terms of composition, Dynamo and Spartak are better.
Elena Grigorievskaya
