Levski legend Nikolay Iliev gave an interview to "Tema Sport", in which he shared his expectations from the Blues in the new season and what the team failed to do last campaign, Topsport writes.
The famous defender of the capital commented on the work of Julio Velasquez, after recently speaking harshly about the Spanish coach.
He spoke about the new rule that the Bulgarian Football Union imposed on teams to start matches with four Bulgarian starters, and pointed out what the big problem of domestic football is.
Here are the details
"If Levski had done a little better, even last season after the mistakes that Ludogorets made, they could have become champions. But that's just the level of the Bulgarian championship, and football in general.
This year we saw a pretty weak championship. This is not only my opinion, but also that of many people I talk to. The teams are completely evenly matched and each can beat the other. You saw that in the results.
I wish Levski success in the new season. God forbid they become champions, but for the moment I don't see things turning out that way. What's this stupidity with the BFU rule? Why do only four Bulgarians have to start the matches. That's why the Italian championship was number one in the world at the time when I went there.
Back then, only three footballers from all over the world could play and they took the best. Yes, they cost a lot of money, but do it in the Bulgarian championship too. This will improve the quality, not attract those who you will then wonder how to get rid of. And now there is no development - neither with the coaches in the schools, nor with the talents. I can say that this is in almost all home teams, and that is where the key lies.
In the 80s, why did we make Levski's biggest team, according to many people, with eight juniors in the first team? We went out on the field with heart and soul and we only cared about first place. Second is a loss. Everyone who comes to "Gerena" should understand this. Velasquez also needs to know it. Yes, this year the team finished in this position, which it has not been in for a long time, but for us success has always been only first place, nothing else,", said Iliev.