“We’ll try to play tight”

On October 6, as part of the 12th round of the Russian Championship, Tom will meet at home with the leader of the standings, Zenit.

Acting Tom head coach Vasily Baskakov spoke about what tactics the team can choose.

Let us remind you that on October 1, in the match of the 2nd round of the group stage of the Champions League, Zenit met with Austria Vienna. The game ended with the score 0:0.

"An exhibition game for Austria, we will also try to play defensively - to slow down a fast attack. Zenit is building fast attacks, we will try to play tight and aggressive in defense. It is important for the defenders to play carefully here. If we give space, naturally, we will not catch them “And if the defenders play carefully, with full concentration, then there is a possibility that we will be able to win something from Zenit,” noted Vasily Baskakov.

In the upcoming match at Tom, defenders Vladimir Rykov and Maxim Bordachev will not be able to take the field due to disqualifications. In addition, Tom’s injured list includes goalkeepers Petr Vasek and Mladen Bozovic, as well as defender Denis Terentyev, midfielders Adam Pinter and Gabriel Muresan, and forwards Evgeniy Starikov and Jan Golenda.

Vasily Baskakov added that “Tom” faces personnel problems in every round.

“Before this, we were left without a goalkeeper. Now we are without a flanker and a central defender, but this happens in football. Every round there are changes in the lineup. We want and try to stabilize, but fate throws us challenges,” Baskakov clarified.

Note that Zenit's goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, defender Christian Ansaldi and midfielder Oleg Shatov will miss the match with Tom due to injuries. As the Zenit website clarifies, by decision of the medical and coaching staff, Alexander Kerzhakov, Roman Shirokov, Ivan Solovyov, Yuri Zhevnov and Jamal Khodzhaniyazov will miss the meeting with our team.