Former captain of the Bulgarian national team Ivelin Popov talks about previous generations in football, comparing them to today's players. The midfielder, who recently parted ways with his last club Arda Kardzhali, spoke to a Russian publication about his time at the grand Spartak Moscow and the challenges facing the new generations of footballers, BTA reported.
"When Spartak won several championship titles in a row, people would say that this generation was stronger. I don't like to compare. Back then there was only a soccer ball. Now there are so many distractions, like phones. They make people lazy – they don't want to put in the effort in sports. Before, every child dreamed of becoming a soccer player or a basketball player.
Times have changed. We need to embrace the new generation. We have no other choice. We have to show them what we want and demand. Many say that people born in the 80s and 90s are disciplined in sports. They have a sporting passion. 70-75 thousand people came to the stadiums! We lived through that time. It is difficult for the new generation. But we have to embrace the new times,“ Popov told the Russian publication Championat.