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The managers at Anzhi Makhachkala have thanked Gadzhi Muslimovich Gadzhiev for the great work he had been doing for the club. This courtesy was however balanced out nicely by the fact that he was at the same time totally fired from the club.

Ever since Gadzhiev devoted too much effort to supervising the referees' work and less to his own team's due to his ensuing suspension, Anzhi's luck has been running out conspicuously. The draw in the 25th round confirmed Anzhi's 7th place in the Russian league, and this mark is likely short of the club managers' expectations.

The coaching of the team has been taken over by Andrey Gorgeev and Roberto Carlos. The latter name may ring a bell to many, he had been playing defender in Anzhi Makhachkala until just recently.

Come the 26th round against Lokomotiv Moscow, Carlos was already by the bench, looking on top of things. However, as early as the 5th minute, Lokomotiv found Carlos's space gaping in defense to score from a surgical header and protect this lead to the final whistle. The defenders, and such are bad habits, seemed to be waiting for the Brazilian legend to arrive. Such situations might present a challenge in the future, too, as the coach might have to do without his own defending play rather often.

Arriving in the nick of time may be Balázs Dzsudzsák in the next round two weeks from now. Hopefully by then Balázs will be able to assume good form and play at least a half against Spartak Nalchik, bringing new momentum to his side.

Anzhi Makhachkala is in 8th place at the moment, hardly in contest for participation in European cups.