The appointment of Boyko Velichkov as sports director of CSKA started the rise of the „reds“ after a terrible start to the season. The „reds“ youth immediately began a purge in the team, and shortly after that the most important reshuffle was made – Dushan Kerkez left at the expense of Hristo Yanev. The director of the „reds” answered the questions of „Mach Telegraf“ in a rather complicated stage of the development of the club as a whole. Here is what Boyko Velichkov shared:
– Mr. Velichkov, where is CSKA on the Bulgarian football map today?
– It depends on the point of view for sure. On the one hand, if we look at it from the context of the standings, it is clear to everyone that CSKA is in a place that does not suit it. On the other hand, looking at it more broadly, CSKA is a leader in many ways, considering the efforts that the club is making to lay the foundations for something extremely important in the future, such as a stadium, a base, an academy. Things that will turn the pyramid upside down and that it will be properly built and will be a guarantee for the successful development of the club as a club. I believe that this will be the basis for the development of the team in a way that will bring the necessary results. The question is ambiguous.
In many details and details, the club is developing at an extremely professional level. Let's start with the training grounds for the first team. Everything that is planned to be built in the children's and youth school, for the first team, for the second team, for the third team, the future construction of its own stadium, in Pancharevo for the second and third teams. Let's also go through the medical center, which is also at a very high level, let's continue with the investments in the recovery of the players, which are available and are a must for high sportsmanship.
Many of the things that are happening are positive. Along with this, the opening of the new store for supporters, with various initiatives that are being made. In my opinion, the club is moving towards another level, unknown so far in Bulgaria and addressed to the large fan base that CSKA has.
– What is your assessment of CSKA's performance at the beginning of the season under Dushan Kerkez and at the end of the autumn season under Hristo Yanev?
– I would like to avoid the specific assessment, but I certainly will not avoid an opinion. I'll start by saying that I haven't been at the club since the beginning of the season and I don't want to evaluate what happened before that. The truth is that I inherited a very difficult situation when I came to the club. Under the leadership of Dusan Kerkez, the team was struggling. I have my own explanations for this. Among them are the poor quality of the preparation that was done. The lack of character, and it is a mandatory condition when you want to build a team with a mentality.
There is no way the assessment can be good because of the things I listed, and also because of the results, which are the most important thing when determining the performance of the team, especially when it comes to CSKA. After that, it is clear that things have improved significantly. Perhaps the assessment of the CSKA supporters, who sent off Hristo Yanev with chants after many of the last matches, is extremely adequate. The rise and improvement are evident. But I keep repeating that CSKA has to catch up in the standings and in terms of points.
It's good that we're moving in this direction and the credit for this goes to Hristo, who managed to change the spirit, mentality and desire in the team, which cost him and not only him a lot of energy.