Football Season Guide

Krasnodar

In


Aleksandr Koryakin (gk), Rodina), Gustavo Furtado (mid), Lamia), Vitaliy Stezhko (def), Chornomorets), Jubal (def), Auxerre)

Out


Kaio (sp)(def), Botafogo), Fedor Smolov (sp)(att), Yuriy Dyupin (sp)(gk), Yuriy Gazinskiy (sp)(gk)

Krasnodar played a pretty much perfect season last year as they were exceptionally focused, consistent and determined to not let their rivals get any unexpected help in the battle for the standings. Murad Musaev built a side that was always on the attack, playing sublime football, and the award at the end was a first league title for the Bulls. It was also something of a final chapter for a club that has been transformed over the past 12 years from an also-ran to the by far and away the most impressive and overachieving club in the league, based own smart inversxnent, focus on the own academy and insatiable desire to compete the giants from the two big cities. Musaev and his men are well aware that the odds of them repeating the heroics from last season are pretty slender but will be looking to keep the same level of performances and make sure that they are up there near the top places throughout the season. They have made one strong addition so far in defender Jubal, coming from Auxerre, who will provide genuine competition for places at the bac. The others who have arrived so far are more of a project and unlikely to play a vital role in the squad this season. In terms of departures, the only ones have been the veteran trio who joined last year, Yuri Dyupin, Fedor Smolov and Yuri Gazinskyi, and neither of them was a major contributor. As a whole this squad looks pretty complete and ready to be among he top teams again and the players will be motivated to show that they indeed get their hands on the trophy again.

Target


Repeating the unlikely title triumph from last season.