The amount spent already shows clear ambition, and if Real Madrid or Manchester City are to be used as examples, it will take time to clear out the poor quality players and replace them with worldwide players of excellent quality. Furthermore, the players from warmer climates will take time to adjust to the cold air in Russia, taking time to adapt their playing styles to suit the Russian game.
However unlike City and Madrid, European success may remain unlikely, as the competition in Russia is a far different story to travelling across Europe. In a league dominated by Zenit and CSKA Moscow, it still lacks the quality to compete with the bigger leagues such as Italy, Spain and England.
This suggests that progress may be harder to find and European success could be a pipedream. Furthermore, when playing in low climates and poor weather conditions, the adaptation to sunny Spain and Italy is hard to muster, when travelling abroad if European football should come knocking. It seems the team would have to reinvent the whole squad over the next few years, as very few of the core members are of adequate quality.
Therefore with Anzhi willing to invest large amounts of money, it will surely only be a matter of time until the team develops some form of chemistry, alongside the continuing spending until a successful team has been found. If Manchester City’s experience is anything to go by, the signs seem positive that it will come together in the end, as City seem to have finally found a winning formula. Without this money, progress would be stopped dead, leaving the club searching for a mid division finish.
However the investment has caused the club and fans alike to think further, setting their sights on European football once more, however with greater success than that of the 2001-02 campaign that ended abruptly in a defeat to Rangers. With the ambition at the club matching the investment behind them, there is no reason why Anzhi can’t become a club of great stature in the next few years.
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