It is always nice when our Russians take leading roles in our leading teams. Lokomotiv is a shining example of this. We can already say with confidence that it is hard to imagine the Red-Greens without 19-year-old alumnus of the club’s academy Alexei Batrakov. He has had an excellent start to the season, scoring seven goals in nine rounds and making five assists. By the way, Batrakov has caught up with Maxim Glushenkov in the list of the Premier League’s top scorers, who moved to Zenit from Lokomotiv in the summer.
In the second match in a row, Batrakov has scored two goals: he scored twice in the game with Orenburg (4:2), and now he has scored twice against Paris NN. It seems that a new star is emerging in our championship. It is no coincidence that Alexey’s transfer value has jumped from 700 thousand euros to five million in just over a month.
Since the start of the season, Batrakov’s transfer value has skyrocketed in price – from 700 thousand euros to five million
It’s nice that Batrakov behaves absolutely adequately and doesn’t suffer from star fever.
Former Russian national team and red-green striker Dmitry Bulykin shared his impressions of Lokomotiv’s performance in general and Alexey Batrakov’s performance in particular with RG.
Are you surprised by Lokomotiv’s results?
Dmitry Bulykin: I think few expected the team to start the season so well. I am doubly pleased to look at the roster of the capital’s Lokomotiv, for which I played in my time, to see many talented Russians there. They are blossoming, many are being called up to the national team. Note that the Muscovites only have a couple of legionnaires in the starting lineup. The system is built, and that is why such stars as Batrakov appear there.
Maybe that’s why Lokomotiv let Maxim Glushenkov and Anton Miranchuk go in the summer? Knowing that Batrakov would improve.
Dmitry Bulykin: I don’t know, I’m not inside the team. But Alexey’s progress was certainly visible in training, it’s not for nothing that he was already allowed to be in the starting lineup last season. In general, I like that Galaktionov (Mikhail Galaktionov, head coach of Lokomotiv. – RG note) has established work with young people. Maybe, looking at him, other clubs will start giving more chances to their students.
There’s been a lot of talk about Batrakov lately. Will the guy “burn out”?
Dmitry Bulykin: Why not talk about him? It’s only here that we do it: belittle our own and praise foreigners at every turn. For example, in Europe, everything is completely different. They support their stars, develop them and then sell them for big money. As for Alexey, I hope that he has a good future. He plays great, mature beyond his years. But there are 2-3 more people at Lokomotiv who can make a name for themselves. I like Sergei Pinyaev this season. He’s been forgotten a bit, but the guy has every chance to have a decent season so that everyone will talk about him enthusiastically again.
How do you see Batrakov’s future?
Dmitry Bulykin: If Alexey gets a good offer from Europe, then, of course, it is worth going. Golovin has been performing at a serious level for many years now, he is progressing. If everything works out, Batrakov will play in a top championship, take part in the Champions League, the Europa League.
Finally: will Lokomotiv be able to compete with Zenit and Krasnodar in the long run?
Dmitry Bulykin: I want Lokomotiv to fight for the championship. It’s more interesting if there is intrigue. Of course, Zenit is the clear favorite. As for Krasnodar, the “bulls” are playing at their best, and it is unknown what will happen if someone gets injured or disqualified. Zenit has a long bench, they have someone to replace the leaders. But I would like there not to be a big gap and the champion is not known in advance.
Russian National Team
The head coach of the Russian national team, Valery Karpin, named the extended roster of the national team for the October training camp. In total, 42 people were included in the list.
Interestingly, the application also included Zenit midfielder Maxim Glushenkov, whose recent comments about the national team’s friendly matches caused great indignation among some fans.
Glushenkov said he was not interested in test matches with opponents like Vietnam. Despite this, as well as the conflict in the past, Karpin called Maxim.
Source: rg.ru
