Rubin flourished in the combination of two Olegs: in Tatarstan they look for support in their young coaching staff, and not in experienced Russian or sometimes foreign charlatans.
The last time Rubin beat Lokomotiv on the road was 9 years ago - in the spring of 2017, when the 35-year-old Kuzmin was still a football player.
Rubin scored 3.57 xG in Cherkasybo: The last time a Kazan team produced this much was back in the FNL - with Shinnik (4.31) in the spring of 2023.
For the first time in 3 years, Rubin won two shutout victories in a row in the RPL - since the fall of 2023, when it alternately beat Baltica (1:0), Ural (1:0), Sochi (2:0) and Pakal (1:0).
Of course, it is too early to draw long-term conclusions, but Kuzmin is in the acting role. The coach has already broken a number of traditions that were unpleasant to the residents of Kazan. His hallmark is his attention to detail. Something the previous coaching staff neglected.
Artiga, as a rule, conducted training on the field and ignored the theory: he did not analyze either the opponents' game or the mistakes of his players.
Kuzmin and Ivanov have a different approach: they added models of situations on the field, began to refine defensive changes, conduct theoretical classes and personal conversations with football players.
Nothing supernatural, but the Spanish swindler who allegedly raised Yamal in Barcelona wasn't having it either.
Another interesting touch in the work of the two Olegs is a neuro-training session at the hotel on the day of the match. One of the exercises is to be the first to say the name of the partner behind the sheet when he comes off.
As a result, these innovations, among others, led to two "dry" victories in a row. The decision to trust the legends of the club turned out to be correct.
Robin has games ahead of him with Zenit, Akron and Krasnodar. If the Kazan team shows good football there as well, then the management should think about keeping Kuzmin permanently.
There are clubs in the RPL that trusted their names this season and were right: the first is Orenburg with Akhmatyanov, and the second is CSKA with Igdismov. At least for now.