RUSSIAN FOOTBALL - NEWS

Alexsandr Erokhin – Russia’s Latest Unknown Name

Leonid Slutsky’s first team selection for Russia included two players who were yet to be capped by their nation with one being a lot more recognisable than the other.  At 34, defender Oleg Kuzmin is a well-known name in Russia. The full back had previously played under Slutsky at Moscow FC, and after the team dissolved Kuzmin stayed in Moscow for a year with Lokomotiv before being picked up by Rubin Kazan. The full back still ply’s his trade with the Tatars.

The other player, who currently features for Ural, is 25 and unlike Kuzmin, has a chance to nail down a position in the long term for his nation. Meet Aleksandr Erokhin.

Born in October 1989, Aleksandr Erokhin had football running through his veins the moment he was born. Living in Barnaul, he signed his first youth contract with his local side FC Dynamo Barnaul. As a fan of Dynamo Barnaul, the news of this contract pleased Alexsandr’s father greatly. However, both Aleksandr’s father and mother, as much as they supported their son didn’t believe the youth contract would lead onto a successful career in football. As a reserve plan, they persuaded him to look into a career of sports medics.

After signing his youth deal, Erokhin benefited from the clubs resources and continued to develop. Several months pasted before Gennady Smertin, father of Chelsea midfielder Alexey, started to train Erokhin individually. Gennady’s son had spent several years at FC Dynamo Barnaul in the earlier stages of his career. Smertin spent hours of time alone with Erokhin improving all the aspects of his game. Erokhin still thanks Gennady Smertin for this. Although, the individual training is not what Erokhin thanks Smertin for the most.

FC Dynamo Barnaul’s youth team later collapsed but the training with Gennady Smertin continued. With his links within Russia, Smertin managed to secure a deal which would take Erokhin from his hometown to Russia’s capital to play for Lokomotiv’s youth team, the same trip Alexey took in the 1990s although he spent a few years at smaller clubs before making it to Lokomotiv at the age of 24.

It wasn’t a straightforward offer to accept for Erokhin though. He was still a teenager at the time and taking this offer meant leaving his parents and family. In the end he accepted the offer but unlike Smertin who only played one season for the Railroaders before he was signed by French side Bordeaux, Erokhin never hit the expected highs and he struggled in the capital. He was no longer going to live the quiet lifestyle he had grown up in in Barnaul. Instead, he was going to be exchanging it for the maniac and fast paced city of Moscow.

His time in Moscow turned out to be short lived. Lokomotiv didn’t feel Erokhin was good enough to take the difficult step to senior football, and therefore he wasn’t offered a professional contract when his youth years were over. This left Erokhin devastated, as he had been a supporter of the club from a young age. Erokhin kept his head held high despite his knock and left his native country for Moldova where Sheriff Tiraspol awaited.

He finished his three years stint at Sheriff with three leagues titles and three cup honours. In addition, the midfielder became a revelation in Moldova and he established himself as a fan favourite. In his second season, the midfielder was the clubs top goal scorer and at 18, that was quite the feat.

Aleksandr Erokhin was essential in Sherriff’s progression in the Champions League.

It wasn’t only the amount of goals he scored which made him an organ within the team. The value of his goals became influential in helping the club progress and assist them onto record achievements. In 2010, in the last few months of his playing career with Sherriff, he scored an equaliser against Dinamo Zargreb in their 1st leg of the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round. A draw in the second leg took the tie to penalties in which Sherriff won. Even though Sheriff were eliminated by Basel in the last play off leg before the group stage, Erokhin couldn’t have given Sherriff fans a more memorable leaving present.

His impressive performances abroad brought interest from clubs back in Russia. As he moved to Krasnodar, he admitted that his experience at Sherriff had improved him and the pain of not being signed up by Lokomotiv Moscow was eased.

Erokhin joined Krasnodar in the beginning of 2011, but the midfielder only managed one appearance for The Bulls in the rest of the campaign. Nine months after returning to Russia, Erokhin made his first appearance for Russia-2 in a friendly against Belarus’ olympic team. For Erokhin, who had continuously stressed throughout his career that his ultimate goal was to play for Russia’s national side, it was a leap forward. Unfortunately, his development had stalled and after being a backup within Krasnodar’s side, he agreed a loan with FNL side SKA-Energiya in the hope for more first team football.

The loan move wasn’t entirely what Erokhin required and although more first team chances were offered, he simply couldn’t hold a place within the team. Erokhin admitted, despite being disappointed with the number of his appearances, his prospects were better at SKA-Energiya in Russia’s second tier and signed permanently with them from Krasnodar. The midfielder was soon to find a new club though and after Ural offered to loan the midfielder, Erokhin accepted the chance and was to be playing in the Russian Premier League again.

After a stellar first campaign at the club, Ural signed the midfielder permanently. His impressive dominance was enough for his employers to give him a two year deal. In his second season his performance at Ural were started to be recognised by his peers and opponents.

Throughout his entire career, when he was asked about his dream Erokhin would be quick to reply that playing for Russia was his ultimate goal. So, when he saw his name on Leonid Slutsky’s team selection, the Russian was gleaming with joy. Professionals in the game applauded the midfielder for being rewarded. Former Alania and CSKA Moscow head coach Valery Gazzaev spoke about how the midfielder had earned his chance whilst Sergei Petrov, who plays for Krasnodar, said his call-up, was “absolutely deserved”.

Erokhin has been linked with a move to Spartak Moscow when his contract expires next summer.

In an interview about his first call-up for the national side, Erokhin describes how the transition between club football and international football was easier than expected. The midfielder drew comparisons between former Ural head coach Viktor Goncharenko and Russia coach Leonid Slutsky, speaking about how their training sessions were familiar resulting in an easier transition from life at Ural to that within the Russia camp.

His contract with Ural expires in 2016 and there were a lot of rumours about Spartak Moscow having already agreed a deal with Erokhin to take him to Moscow next summer. There has been interest from abroad too as Sporting in Portugal were reportedly in talks with Ural about a transfer in the summer window. Since then though, Alexsandr Erokhin has come out and denied those rumours saying his agent would have told him had there been concrete interest.

The midfielder’s story is a unique one. After being released by his boyhood club at such a young age, Erokhin has shown tremendous strength to fight back and achieve his dream. His form at the back end of the last season has carried into this years campaign. He won the Fans Player of the Month in July and August after netting four goals and assisting twice in seven games. His determined character is carried off the field and he recently mentioned in an interview that he would have pursued a career in music had he not gone into football. Not an answer which would please his parents I’m sure.

Erokhin has the chance to stamp his name into the Russian national team and if he continues his marvelous form at club level, he’ll no longer be a name only a few people know. He’ll be a name only a few people don’t know of.

AVB: "Hulk is 100% and we trust in our attacking force"

The Head coach on the match with Spartak, the rumors about the conflict in the dressing room, preparing for Gent and the fitness of Hulk and Anyukov.

We want to know your opinion about the match with Spartak what is the situation in the team, you’ve had no wins in the last 3 home matches and in the away matches with Spartak and CSKA.

"The draw in Moscow was a great result we were by far the better team against Spartak and the game with CSKA was very even, we dominated the game against Spartak. The situation in the championship stands like before, we have to wait for CSKA to lose points, they are on top form and we have to wait but we believe we can do it. We have to improve our home results, in the league and in the Champions League, it was at home last season we were in the same situation. We have to improve, it was at home like against Benfica. Our aim is to win the Russian championship and to qualify for the knock out phase in the Champions League".

Why wasn’t Anyukov at morning training and what about the rumours at a conflict in the dressing room after the game with Spartak?

"There is a problem in his foot after Spartak, he took a heavy knock when he tried to shoot in the 40th minute, he’s still recovering and he’s suffering but you can count on him for the game. About the second question, it is absolute nonsense, you have the experience of a journalist to believe certain stories? It’s a pity that the journalist who wrote that isn’t here to talk about that story and it’s a pity you have chosen to ask about such a lie. If that person is courageous enough he should be here to tell his lie and it shows the low quality of journalism from that person".

About Gent you saw the game against Lyon, what is your opinion about the way they play and which players took your attention?

"The most important thing is the team spirit it’s difficult to outline individuals, the way they are compact and the way the defenced for each other, the way they give everything for every single game, this team disciple makes them so strong. Regarding the players Simon, Neto and Depoitre of course but they make a compact team and a compact unity with great balance. They push forward with their wingers almost like 4 forwards they have this mix of youth and experience which can make it very difficult for us, we must not lower our levels of attention or our levels of discipline and it will be very, very difficult tomorrow, it won’t be easy".

How is Hulks physically after the match with Spartak and how is the Lodygin mentally?

"Hulk is ok he’s fit and back in training, and the medical team have got him back, he’s 100%. Lodygiun’s form is not easy for him, he’s made some mistakes and he knows about it, we’ve spoken to him and we will have to decide about tomorrow, every player goes through these dips of form and we will have to decide what is best for the team, we will have to decide how we go forward tomorrow with him or Kerzhakov or Malafeev. We have a short squad as you know and will have to decide what we will do but we have trust in our goalkeepers".

You are known for how you analysis your opponents. Gent in the last few games have played well, and do you know no Zenit coach has got 6 points against teams from the 4th pot.

"I didn’t know this statistic, I know about our record last season, it wasn’t good at home, we had the win against Benfica we wanted to be stronger and better against Monaco and Leverkusen. We got 3 points in Valencia like Benfica, who hadn’t lost at home only to Barcalona two years ago, what we have to do is improve at home and we want to do it against Gent, we know their qualities and their weaknesses, we have very good creative players who can solve games for us, we trust in our attacking force and we trust in them to create spaces, we have to have team concentration, motivation and not to disrespect the opposing team for tomorrow’s game".

Another question about Lodygin and his mistakes in recent matches, did you discuss this with the goalkeeping coaches, why is he making these mistakes?

"It is about everything when things go wrong for a player, also personal problems, you go through dips in form and you want to get the form back that you have shown before. I want to remind you when we won the championship we had the best defence, our defence and keeper who have done so well haven’t lost their qualities. We want our stability back, they are working on these counter-attacks and we are working on that as a team, as a unit not as individuals, we have full trust in our goalkeepers and our defence to make it through this time".

After the match with Spartak there was a video of you trying to enter the dressing room, this is not allowed, what do you have to say about it?

"The problem is the rules say the protocol has to finish and only then the coach can go to the dressing room. It’s interesting that everyone here knows the rules, very interesting! The 3 security guards were very well informed and didn’t allow me in, which was a lack of sportsmanship and fair play but when you have these rivalries you have to expect it, and when a club like Spartak took advantage of it, and these rules it was a total lack of respect, as was the amount of games I have received, it’s a pity and a complete load of nonsense that this has happened but I have to accept it".

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Hulk accuses Russian fans of racism

Zenit St. Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk says he was racially abused during a match against Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League. When Hulk was substituted after scoring in the 2-2 draw, he blew kisses to the stands and later said this was because "unfortunately the same situation keeps happening, racism from the stands," in comments published on Zenit's website.

Last season, Spartak and Torpedo Moscow were punished over separate incidents involving their fans, who directed monkey chants at Hulk. Hulk said in July that racist behavior was present at "almost every game" in Russia, where he has played since 2012, and that he feared it could mar the 2018 World Cup. 


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#	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	G	P
1	CSKA Moskva	10	8	2	0	20	9	+11	26
2	Lokomotiv Moskva	10	6	3	1	17	8	+9	21
3	Zenit	10	5	3	2	19	13	+6	18
4	Rostov	10	5	3	2	12	7	+5	18
5	Spartak Moskva	10	5	2	3	14	12	+2	17
6	Ural	10	4	3	3	15	15	+0	15
7	Krylya Sovetov	10	4	2	4	9	9	+0	14
8	Dinamo Moskva	10	3	5	2	11	12	-1	14
9	Krasnodar	10	3	4	3	11	8	+3	13
10	Terek Grozny	10	2	7	1	13	11	+2	13
11	Amkar Perm'	10	3	3	4	9	11	-2	12
12	Rubin Kazan'	10	2	1	7	7	15	-8	7
13	Mordovia Saransk	10	1	4	5	10	15	-5	7
14	Kuban' Krasnodar	10	1	4	5	8	13	-5	7
15	Anzhi	10	1	3	6	8	15	-7	6
16	Ufa	10	1	3	6	7	17	-10	6

Hard-Fought Victory 

Over Samara

Lokomotiv won against Krylia Sovetov in the Russian Championship's Gameweek 9 match.

The Railwaymen started slightly reshuffled, compared to how they were lined up against Rubin and Sporting.Kasaev hit the ground running again having recovered from a minor injury. A spearhead's position up front was filled by Skuletic. Fernandes appeared in the first eleven for the second time in the row.

Both teams began at a moderate pace, Lokomotiv making lobbed passes at Skuletic while Krylia Sovetov were trying their luck with long shots. Skuletic did find the net closer to the half-time, but the linesman had already flagged for offside.
In the second half Lokomotiv increased pace, and the opener was not long coming. Following a spot kick byKolomeytsev who sent the ball to the right corner, Corluka deflecting it home sweetly.

A minute later the Railwaymen could have doubled on Fernandes’ powerful shot taken within the area, but the ball hit the defenders. Our coaches made some replacements, fielding Miranchuk, Ndinga and then Niasse. The play became more intense, the Railroaders pressuring the visiting team back to their goal.

Later into the match, our subs proved effective. Playing a give-and-go with Miranchuk, Niasse easily took on two defenders and then put in a clinical finish. Within a mere minute Baye Oumar could have bagged a brace, but caught an opponent.
Lokomotiv came out victorious, remaining in the second place of the table, three points ahead of Zenit. Already in the next round the Railwaymen are listed to play against the tournament's top side CSKA.

But before that our squad is scheduled for an away match on Valeriy Karpin’s soil in Armavir. We will meet Torpedo in the round of 32 of the Russian Cup.

Russian Championship. Gameweek 9

Lokomotiv - Krylia Sovetov – 2:0 (0:0)
Goals scored: Corluka, 54 (1:0). Niasse, 87 (2:0)

Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Pejcinovic, Corluka, Denisov, Shishkin, Kasaev, Fernandes (Ndinga, 62), Kolomeytsev, Samedov, Tarasov (Miranchuk, 62), Skuletic (Niasse,74)
Krylia Sovetov: Konuhov, Tsallagov, Bateau (Rodich, 84), Taranov (Simaeys, 58), Nadson, Burlak, Pomerko, Gabulov, Dragun (Gorbatenko, 78), Kornillenko, Mollo
Bookings: Pomerko, 26. Tsallagov, 39. Simaeys, 77. Samedov, 92
Referee: Mikhail Vilkov (Nizhniy Novgorod)
September 20. Moscow, Lokomotiv stadium.