Bulgaria's bronze medals from the European Championship for U18 men are a well-deserved recognition for the hard work of the entire team, but also a serious responsibility for the future. This was stated by head coach Miroslav Zhivkov after the official ceremony, where the team and coaching staff were honored with commemorative plaques by the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation.
According to him, the championship was at an exceptionally high level, with the quality of volleyball improving with each passing day.
"This makes us even happier because we managed to emerge victorious from a very strong and evenly matched group. The credit goes to the entire coaching staff and the players," Zhivkov emphasized.
The coach admitted that the semi-final loss to Poland left disappointment, but he doesn't believe the opponent was insurmountable. Bulgaria was leading 2-1 in sets, but according to him, the accumulated fatigue from the tough matches in the preliminary group tilted the scales in favor of the Poles.
"We weren't 100% physically fresh to endure such a tough emotional match. There were moments of sporting chance, individual decisions, and details that decided the encounter. It is precisely such matches that show us what we need to develop further," commented the national team coach.
Zhivkov is convinced that the success will give confidence to the young national players, but he warned them that it also brings even greater responsibility.
"This medal gives wings and gives meaning to the effort you've put in. But it should make you even more responsible and even more ambitious. I believe these intelligent boys will continue to develop. From now on, their work in the clubs will be very important."
After the loss to Poland, the team managed to quickly regroup mentally and focus on the battle for bronze.
"We remained firmly grounded. We told ourselves that we could win something to show, not just talk about. I saw boys who put the team above everything else," Zhivkov revealed.
The coach recalled that the preparation for this squad began just a month before the European qualification due to the busy calendar, but even then he saw the attitude and character of the players. Bulgaria won the qualification tournament, then triumphed at the Balkan Championship, and the bronze from the European Championship is a logical continuation of this successful cycle.
Despite the medal, Zhivkov is adamant that the most important goal remains the development of future national players for the senior men's team.
"Our big goal is to shorten the path of these boys to the senior men's national team. We talk about rankings and results every day, but the true sporting result is achieved in every training session. If we manage to see them sooner as key figures in the senior men's national team, then we have done our job," concluded Miroslav Zhivkov.