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Maxim MitrofanovGeneral Director of the football club "Zenit"
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- General Director of FC Zenit
- Andre Arshavin's Future
- Season Goals
- Future of Goalkeepers
- Leadership Restructure
- Reduced Squad Size
- Stadium Security
- Banner Incident
- Budget for 2009
General Director of FC Zenit
2008 Season Review"This season has been incredibly successful," declared Maxim Mitrofanov, General Director of FC Zenit. "We set out to win the UEFA Cup this year and we achieved that. We also won the Russian Super Cup."
Despite some disappointing results in the Russian Premier League, Mitrofanov emphasized the team's overall outstanding performance. "Our style of play was among the best in the league."
Andre Arshavin's Future
"We're open to offers for Arshavin if they meet his worth," explained Mitrofanov. "He's not a charity case. He's an asset."
Season Goals
For the upcoming season, Mitrofanov outlined clear objectives: "Our priority is to win the Russian Premier League and defend our UEFA Cup title."
Future of Goalkeepers
"Our young goalkeepers in the reserve team have shown great potential," said Mitrofanov. "We believe that Zabolotsky and Zaitsev will be the future of Zenit's goalkeeping."
Leadership Restructure
Addressing concerns about a shift in authority under President Alexander Dyukov, Mitrofanov emphasized that Dyukov has been actively involved with the club since 2005 and remains fully engaged in its operations.
Reduced Squad Size
"We've decided to reduce our squad size from 25 to 22-23 players," announced Mitrofanov. "We believe a smaller group will allow for more efficient management."
Stadium Security
"We are constantly working with the police to improve crowd control at home matches," stated Mitrofanov. "We aim to create a comfortable and safe environment for fans while minimizing police intervention."
Banner Incident
"The incident with the banner about Lev Yashin was unfortunate," said Mitrofanov. "We obtained intelligence that such a banner was being prepared, but it was prohibited. The perpetrators managed to sneak a small piece of fabric into the stadium, and despite its brief appearance, it has created a lasting controversy."
Budget for 2009
"The budget for 2009 was approved by the board of directors," reported Mitrofanov. "We have made some adjustments to non-core expenses, including those related to our media initiatives. The budget remains largely unchanged from 2008."
