Defender of Spartak, **[Egor Zaitsev](https://www.example.com/tags/26655-egor-zajcev/)**, commented on the team’s defeat to Ufa’s Salavat Yulaev in the playoff series that concluded in seven games. During the series, the red-and-whites were leading 3-1.

**– At a 3-1 series lead, what prevented you from taking that final step to secure a spot in the semifinals?**
– We hindered our own progress to the next round by making mistakes, and we paid the price for them. I hope this playoff experience, though bittersweet, will serve as a lesson for all of us for the upcoming season. Championship teams aren’t built in a single season; it’s a journey. Our team is on this path, and I’m optimistic that next year we will be much more experienced and better equipped to handle such significant challenges.

**– Reflecting on the series as a whole, what do you consider the pivotal moment?**
– I believe it was the fifth game when we led the series 3-1. We came here and needed to push through, both psychologically and physically against our opponent, who was also feeling downcast and disheartened. We should have capitalized on that, but we didn’t. In overtime, we conceded a quick, somewhat unfortunate goal, which allowed them to get back into the series, — Zaitsev is quoted by “Youth Newspaper”.