The head coach of Zenit St. Petersburg Sergei Semak expressed confidence that the European Football Union (UEFA) allegedly dreams of returning Russian teams to international tournaments. At the same time, the coach complained that the team lacked the atmosphere of the Champions League.

Semak said this during a speech to St. Petersburg students, according to the SBG Thoughts Aloud Telegram channel. The coach of the Russian champions used the traditional narratives of Kremlin propaganda, including the one that says sports should stay out of politics and unite people.

"I know one thing: UEFA is waiting for Russia to return. They are ready to bring us back when the circumstances are right. The decision to expel us is 100% politicized. Sport should be the link that unites people, not divides them. Sport should be out of politics. The team lacks the drive of the Champions League. This is, of course, the best club tournament in the world. Many players want to get there to experience this atmosphere. We cannot influence the suspension from European competitions. Of course, we miss this atmosphere," Semak said.

Earlier, the head coach of the Russian national football team Valery Karpin complained that even African teams do not want to play friendly matches with aggressors.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Sergei Semak's assistant at Zenit and a traitor to Ukraine, reacted to the deprivation of all his awards and a ban on football activities in his native country for the first time.

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