Comment by Jacqueline MIKHAYLOV, "Tema Sport":
The impossible is happening literally before our eyes! Completely surprisingly and with almost no prior indications, the undisputed champion of Bulgaria for the last 14 years seems to be ready to accept the unfamiliar role of the loser. The unthinkable and forbidden: “So what will happen if we are not champions“, has already been said out loud in Razgrad. And now naturally the two fundamental questions arise.
The first is how it got here, and the second is what follows as a continuation. The answer to “how it got here” is multifaceted, but also easy. The most accurate explanation is an avalanche of wrong personnel decisions, which are the result of a huge underestimation of the consequences. In Ludogorets they simply decided that they were untouchable and vaccinated against all kinds of cataclysms. However, it turned out that this was not the case at all. The problems that had been accumulating for hours by the spoonful hit them with the force of a tsunami. And when the wind and water come, they do not pick and choose and sweep away everything in their path. Currently, Razgrad has no coach or players. In addition, they have lost influence in Bulgarian football and others are walking on their heads, figuratively speaking. The neutral spectator is amazed at what he sees, but most of all at the lack of reaction. The facts speak eloquently that Ludogorets is clearly deprived of the familiar refereeing comfort and the rivals are ruthlessly taking away points from it. And at the same time, they are giving them too easily to the direct competitor for the title! As is well known from practice, the weak cannot count on mercy and mercy. Even the bookmakers have now renounced their eternal favorite and transferred the leadership in the odds to Levski. And this is almost like a funeral prayer.
By definition, when you are weak and weak, you also become pitiful in the eyes of people. Motsi's words that Ludogorets will still be champions at the end of the championship only cause laughter, because the next day the club that pays him for unfinished business registers another loss and a rain of goals in the net. The series is of shocking proportions. On September 28, Ludogorets easily and without any problems defeated Montana at home 3:0 and then all hell broke loose. A loss to Betis at home, followed by two draws against CSKA in Sofia and Spartak Varna at home. Then a second loss in Europe to Young Boys, a disaster in Bistritsa against CSKA 1948, a tortured victory with a goal in the last minute for the Bulgarian Cup against Chernomorets Burgas, a goalless draw in Varna with Cherno More and two consecutive defeats to Ferencváros and Arda.
This is certainly the darkest period in the short history of the Razgrad club, but it is not even over. After the break, Ludogorets will play 8 more matches until December 20th and in none of them is it certain of victory.
This is exactly the biggest change and it is that the lord of the football ring has no guarantee that he will win against his next rivals. Even if they are called Septemvri, Botev Vratsa, Dobrudzha, Slavia, Beroe... There is another match with Septemvri for the Bulgarian Cup, as well as two European clashes with Celta and PAOK. A year ago at this time, no one would have doubted Ludogorets' victories on the home stage. But now it is the same not only in our country, but also in Europe. The chances of complete success in both places are almost illusory.
And back to the answer to the question of why things happened so suddenly and the house of cards collapsed. The beginning of the end was set at least 5-6 years ago, when the era of the great Ludogorets, which twice participated in the group stage of the Champions League, ended. One by one, the heroes Marcelinho, Motsi, Dyakov, Keseru, Sisinho, Wanderson, Nathanael and Vlado Stoyanov left the stage. In addition, a new coach did not appear with the luck of Georgi Dermendzhiev. The team completely disappeared in European tournaments, but due to the general policy of UEFA, it continued to play a dozen matches on the international stage. The class dropped noticeably, but things were under control with the local competition, which was mainly represented by CSKA during the time of Grisha Ganchev. In the few tense moments, this same opposition was neutralized by all means!
After Ganchev's retirement, it became even easier, and last season, even with a weak coach like Igor Jovicevich, the 14th consecutive title was easily and ahead of schedule. No one is counting the treble, because it is clear that in Razgrad they value as a priority only the title, which gives the right to the next attack on the main phase of the Champions League. This mechanism was used for 14 consecutive seasons, but apparently now the cycle is ending and next year we will have a new, most likely blue participant in the most commercial tournament. He will collect the minimum share of about 10 million euros, which is due to the champions according to UEFA regulations. I am making this smooth transition in order to see the near future of Ludogorets with the subsequent heavy financial blows. A situation is emerging in the next season in which Razgrad will lose almost all of their previous European income, and in addition, they will register colossal damage from the lack of outgoing transfers. It is clear that participation in Europe is a matter of future multi-million transfers. Razgrad should forget about such things! But they should also forget about the easy attraction of classy signings, because one of the reasons a good footballer goes to Razgrad is not the beauty of Deliorman, but the opportunity for a lot of matches in Europe. Naturally, one goes to the attractiveness of the remuneration, but the budget, as perforated as Swiss cheese, will hardly allow the current mind-boggling salaries to be distributed. It is no secret that in Razgrad they start at 50 thousand leva per month and go much higher. It must be admitted that this money was provided precisely by the serious revenue sector.
The picture of the future is not at all rosy because of the stereotypes. But everything is in time. Just as the era of the great Marcelinho is over, so will probably come the time to part with the previous super-successful management team. This is simply the natural course of time, but it is not at all said that new suitable performers will be found. CSKA's experience has shown that personnel is a big problem. Therefore, the two owners of Ludogorets will have an extremely difficult time choosing the right people for new operational management. And they will most likely make a fatal mistake!
The option that the current severe playing crisis will grow into a complete collapse of the Ludogorets phenomenon is not excluded at all. Because for what reason will this club be saved? A mass and loyal audience was never created, Europe will be a mirage, and the fight for the top spot, other than the first, is devoid of common sense. And the Domuschiev brothers, who are excellent businessmen, cannot help but face the dilemma - is it worth directing tens of millions of euros to nothing? The first time they got it almost for free thanks to luck with Ivaylo Petev, Metodi Tomanov and a great selection, but there is no guarantee that it will happen again. The conclusion is that we may already be watching the sunset of a football empire, which ends like every other previous one in history.