The coach of the Bulgarian national team Alexander Dimitrov explained that Bulgaria tried to do its best, but many factors influenced the 0:2 defeat. The coach pointed out the difference in the classes of the two teams, and also drew attention to the penalty for the hosts, BTA reported.
„The Turkish team is very strong and it showed it today. There are very strong individuals and they play at the highest level. It is a pleasure to play against such a team. A month ago we played a strong first half, but because of individual mistakes we lost so badly. Of course, without belittling the qualities of the Turkish players, because they forced us to do them“, Dimitrov began.
Why doesn't the team manage to maintain the same pace throughout the match? “We play more confidently and at higher speeds in one of the halves and we have to throw more power in the second. Spain and Turkey press very well, their transition between the two phases is very strong, very fast and it is difficult to sustain throughout the match. Taking into account the qualities of individuals. You know that not all of our players have practice, and the levels of the teams where our and their players play are different“.
„These are the facts and we cannot escape them, there is a negative attitude towards the men's team and it is not from today and yesterday. And even before me. We have to get out of this situation with results. But you have to agree, the group, the rivals are very difficult and tough. But the players give us moderate optimism that better days will come. It won't always be like this, and we won't play only with Spain and Turkey“.
About the penalty from which Turkey opened the score, he said: “It is already very difficult for a person to have a definite opinion about a penalty – whether it is or not. But against such an opponent, when you give a “lighter“ penalty, it affects the result. It could have been played, but we accept it. Despodov? There really were a lot of matches. I knew that we would go forward and press and we needed a fresher person. Because the first half did a lot of work and he was our man of the transition.
I play cards and I don't like to be a capo. Against Georgia it won't be easy. Will I stay as coach? This question is not for me. But we are all doing everything to get out of this situation. And this will happen with positive results, not with worthy losses“.
Three own goals in qualifying have never happened to the Bulgarian team, and two of them were by Atanas Chernev. “ We are constantly analyzing. Today's came from a cross from a static position. That's how the situation found us, although we worked. But there is bad luck, there is a lack of luck. But we have to overcome it and get through it“, the coach concluded.