Zhelyu STANKOV
History often likes to make jokes, and depending on the circumstances we can put quotes, because the “joke“ often has a positive nuance. And the history of the glorious CSKA is marked by such unforeseen events from both poles.
If 18 years ago someone, whoever he was, had told anyone that CSKA would not become a champion in exactly such a period of time, they would have sent him for specialized treatment or included him in the list for the presidential elections. During this period of time, the army men were more or less to blame for the drought themselves, but the main reason was the appearance on the map of the so-called Ludogorets project. We remember that about the titles that were stolen and – “let's play”.
Here is a sign from history, which, intertwined with some coincidences, can produce as a joke the main favorite for the championship title this season. Someone will immediately press the blue button with a request to interrupt any debate on the issue, because the high-flying drone for about a year is Levski, which at this moment is also a favorite for the next winner in the First League. But as they say, everything is now completely in the red hands.
Why now? Well, because CSKA already has a coach, with all due respect to the dedication and passion with which Hristo Yanev worked. Yes, before Velasquez, the coaches of “Gerena“ also worked hard, but they didn't succeed. The red football community has given all its trust to Marcus Gizdol for a while, and to get back to the topic of jokes and coincidences, we will look at the program.
We will rush to the conclusion before the presentation. CSKA has 6 days ahead that are by no means marked by routine and that can send the club and the team into another dimension. Not exactly a different orbit, but if everything in these 6 days works out, the pulse will already show other values.
Day 1 is Monday. CSKA plays Ludogorets for the last time at the national stadium. This team was the last rival of the “Bulgarian Army“ before the destruction of the red shrine. Then CSKA fell and it was not a good way to say goodbye at all. In retrospect, if the reds beat the team from Razgrad on Monday, this will be an excellent impulse to move 350 meters east to the brand new home. You beat a major title rival and you're on the runway for takeoff.
Day 6 is Saturday. The brand new home, which can't possibly gather all the red hearts on the opening day, will give CSKA the opportunity to add three more points from the match with Slavia. These 6 days are not just a routine week of the championship. They represent a bridge between the club's past and future — a symbolic closing of the page with away matches by defeating a major enemy and a triumphant step into the modern present at their own new stadium against Slavia.
However, there is also the possibility of the “joke” with the opposite effect. Instead of acting as a runway for takeoff, these 6 days carry the risk of artificially inflating tension. When a team is accused of having its fate throughout the season decided in less than a week, this often leads to stiffness, and with CSKA there are examples back in time. This will be the main psychological trump card of Ludogorets, who on Monday will want to show that the experienced train driver has already shaken off the problems and is ready to drive the train again, regaining their monopoly.