The coach of Botev (Plovdiv) Nikolay Kirov made an candid analysis of the crushing defeat against Arda (Kardzhali), which ended with the humiliating 0:5 score. A key moment in the match was the too easy receiving of cards, which led to fatal consequences for the team.
During the press conference, Kirov emphasized the exceptional importance of apologizing to the fans, who continue to support the team despite the heavy performance. "Two extremely unpleasant red cards in critical moments completely ruined our game," commented the coach.
Especially dramatic was the moment of removing Andrey Yordanov and captain Ivelin Popov, which left the team with nine players on the field. Kirov admitted that the first red card came at a time when the two teams were playing relatively equally, and the subsequent goal further complicated the situation.
The coach frankly shared the challenges facing the team: "Right now we are in the process of selecting players. What is more important is to demonstrate responsibility and be an example for everyone." He underlined the need for more responsible behavior, especially from the team leaders.
Among the main problems, Kirov pointed out the lack of sufficiently prepared footballers and the need for quality squad reinforcement. "We have sent offers, but the players are not here yet. We need class and freshness," he said.
An additional blow to the team was the absence of Todor Nedelev due to a muscle problem. Kirov announced that talks with key players are upcoming, especially with captain Popov, to analyze what happened and take necessary measures.
It is clear that Botev (Plovdiv) urgently needs to rethink its strategy and improve discipline to regain the trust of its fans.