FM21 Zenit St Petersburg tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers.
Football Manager 2021 Zenit St Petersburg tactic and team guide. Club
culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and
potential transfers in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Zenit squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM21 manager can use.
About the club
Zenit are a football club that ply their trade in the Russian Premier League. They are one of the powerhouses of Russia and have now won back to back Premier League titles inching ever closer to equalling Spartak’s record of 10 Russian League titles.
They have also had more success than most Russian Clubs in European
competitions having secured the Europa League and Super Cup in the 2007-2008
campaign. Zenit had humble beginnings and most of their success have come
after the Gazprom era after the energy conglomerate had invested millions into
the club’s development including financing the building of their new stadium.
Zenit are the defending Russian Premier League champions and have qualified for UCL as a result. The minimum board requirements once you take over will be,
1. Win the Russian League
2. Be Competitive in the UCL
3. Reach the final of the Russian Cup.
The board will not ask you to play in any particular way and will be satisfied as long as you achieve their goals. However, they will have you operate under their wage budgets.
The club have good training facilities and a decent youth academy (one of the best in Russia). However, to compete with European standards you will need to start improving this in the future years.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Zenit, however, the best-suited ones will be Vertical Tiki Taka. Being one of the better teams in Russia, this will ensure that possession is recycled and the emphasis is to create goal-scoring chances.
A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 will be the best formations for Zenit with the current squad of players available at your disposal.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows,
Andre Lunev as a sweeper keeper.
Vyacheslav Karavaev & Douglas Santos as the two wing-backs.
Yaroslav Rakitskiy & Dejan Lovren as Ball playing central defenders as both are comfortable passers.
Wilmar Barrios as the defensive midfielder in a ball-winning midfielder role.
Magomed Ozdoyev & Wendel as the 2 central midfielders with the former as a box to box midfielder and the latter as a playmaker.
Malcolm & Sebastian Druissi as the 2 wide players with both operating as inverted wingers.
Artem Dzyuba as the lone forward in a target man role.
Alternatively, when you change to a 4-2-3-1 or employ a fluid counter-attacking style of football against difficult opposition especially in the Champion’s league.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
The Russian veteran is the club captain and a legend at Zenit. His goals and aerial prowess will be key to securing favourable results.
The young Brazilian winger was once considered a prodigy and was said to have the potential to become a world-class player. His career however has not gone according to plan but he is still an extremely capable player with a high ceiling.
The experienced defender is a world cup finalist and a champion’s league winner. He is also very good in the air and is a massive threat from set-pieces.
The young Brazilian playmaker is already an important player for Zenit and will only improve with time and experience.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
1. Zenit are a big fish in a small pond with the club struggling for consistency in Europe.
2. There is the threat of some talent being poached by bigger European clubs.
3. There is very little quality outside the first team and you may need a complete overhaul for most positions.
The following players will add quality to the Zenit squad and will help take the team to the next level.
· Marcos Antonio
· Tete
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Aleksandr Yerokhin
· Yuri Zhirkov
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
The 21-year-old currently plays for Zenit 2 and is good enough to be a backup for the main side. He will only improve in the future and can become one of the best players in his position in the league.
The central defender has the potential to be a leader for Zenit in the future and can become one of the mainstays in defence if given enough exposure.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
To Summarize, Zenit are one of the strongest teams in the Russian Premier League, however, their performances in Europe has been rather underwhelming. Can you take over Zenit and make them a consistent threat in European competitions whilst maintaining the dominance over Russian football?
Board Requirements
Zenit are the defending Russian Premier League champions and have qualified for UCL as a result. The minimum board requirements once you take over will be,
1. Win the Russian League
2. Be Competitive in the UCL
3. Reach the final of the Russian Cup.
The board will not ask you to play in any particular way and will be satisfied as long as you achieve their goals. However, they will have you operate under their wage budgets.
The club have good training facilities and a decent youth academy (one of the best in Russia). However, to compete with European standards you will need to start improving this in the future years.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Zenit, however, the best-suited ones will be Vertical Tiki Taka. Being one of the better teams in Russia, this will ensure that possession is recycled and the emphasis is to create goal-scoring chances.
A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 will be the best formations for Zenit with the current squad of players available at your disposal.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows,
Andre Lunev as a sweeper keeper.
Vyacheslav Karavaev & Douglas Santos as the two wing-backs.
Yaroslav Rakitskiy & Dejan Lovren as Ball playing central defenders as both are comfortable passers.
Wilmar Barrios as the defensive midfielder in a ball-winning midfielder role.
Magomed Ozdoyev & Wendel as the 2 central midfielders with the former as a box to box midfielder and the latter as a playmaker.
Malcolm & Sebastian Druissi as the 2 wide players with both operating as inverted wingers.
Artem Dzyuba as the lone forward in a target man role.
Alternatively, when you change to a 4-2-3-1 or employ a fluid counter-attacking style of football against difficult opposition especially in the Champion’s league.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
Key Players
1. Artem Dzyuba
The Russian veteran is the club captain and a legend at Zenit. His goals and aerial prowess will be key to securing favourable results.
2. Malcom
The young Brazilian winger was once considered a prodigy and was said to have the potential to become a world-class player. His career however has not gone according to plan but he is still an extremely capable player with a high ceiling.
3. Dejan Lovren
The experienced defender is a world cup finalist and a champion’s league winner. He is also very good in the air and is a massive threat from set-pieces.
4. Wendel
The young Brazilian playmaker is already an important player for Zenit and will only improve with time and experience.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
Weaknesses
1. Zenit are a big fish in a small pond with the club struggling for consistency in Europe.
2. There is the threat of some talent being poached by bigger European clubs.
3. There is very little quality outside the first team and you may need a complete overhaul for most positions.
Potential Transfers (in)
The following players will add quality to the Zenit squad and will help take the team to the next level.
· Marcos Antonio
· Tete
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Aleksandr Yerokhin
· Yuri Zhirkov
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Leon Musaev
The 21-year-old currently plays for Zenit 2 and is good enough to be a backup for the main side. He will only improve in the future and can become one of the best players in his position in the league.
2. Danila Prokhin
The central defender has the potential to be a leader for Zenit in the future and can become one of the mainstays in defence if given enough exposure.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
Summary
To Summarize, Zenit are one of the strongest teams in the Russian Premier League, however, their performances in Europe has been rather underwhelming. Can you take over Zenit and make them a consistent threat in European competitions whilst maintaining the dominance over Russian football?
