Sobolev on fans' hate: "You learn to take it in stride."

Zenit forward Alexander Sobolev reflected on the harsh treatment he receives from football fans.

“When I’ve been constantly hated for ten years—whether I play well or poorly—you learn to accept it. Not every good football player can succeed at ‘Zenit’ or ‘Spartak’. Because when you play well, you’re celebrated, but when you play poorly, you’re criticized. And not everyone can handle that pressure,” Sobolev said in a video on Zenit's YouTube channel.

The 27-year-old player joined Zenit from Spartak in August 2024, signing a contract with the St. Petersburg club on a ‘3+1’ basis. In the current season, Sobolev has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist in 14 matches for the blue-white-blue team.