The Bulgarian national volleyball team suffered a heavy 0:3 loss to Turkey (20:25, 20:25, 21:25) in their third match of League of Nations Group D, held in the packed "Arena Burgas" hall. Over 6000 people witnessed the "Lions'" weakest performance in the tournament so far, further marred by a worrying injury to setter Simeon (Moni) Nikolov, who left the court on a stretcher in the middle of the second game.

🔴Blengini: "The injury shook the team, we lost confidence"

Head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini did not hide his disappointment:

"I have no information at this moment about Moni Nikolov's condition. I hope it's not serious. In the first set, we made too many service errors and couldn't put pressure on the opponent. Turkey is a very high-quality team – four of them won the championship and eliminated Trento in the Champions League. We tried to adapt, but Moni's injury led to nervousness. This affected our entire performance."

The Italian specialist added:

"We have a large squad, but after such an injury, it's normal to have a psychological effect. Alex Nikolov, besides being his teammate, is also his brother. It's completely normal for him to be affected. At the end of the third set, we also lacked the courage to try to turn things around. I hope we recover quickly, because tomorrow we have an extremely tough match against Ukraine."

🗣️Martin Atanasov: "We were relaxed from the morning"

Receiver Martin Atanasov also commented on the disappointing performance and the impact of the injury:

"First – I hope Moni is okay. I saw him step badly and experience severe pain. A very unpleasant moment. Otherwise, we started the match casually. It was clear from the morning that we had relaxed a bit. After two victories in front of a home crowd, it's understandable. We are a young squad, but this is a lesson. We must learn from such mistakes."

Atanasov also admitted the difficulties in replacing the setter:

"Stoil Palev came in and tried hard, but he's not as accustomed to playing with us. That definitely played a role. The Turks have great players, even with injuries. Blengini had warned us that they would fight hard. And that's what happened."

The good news is that Atanasov is now almost fully recovered:

"I had problems with my hip joint, but now I'm almost 100%. The medical staff is doing an excellent job. I'm giving my all and I hope to get more playing time."

🎙️Captain Alex Grozdanov: "We need to learn how to approach matches after victories"

Bulgaria's captain Alex Grozdanov also emphasized the importance of drawing conclusions after this loss:

"We definitely need to learn this lesson – how to approach matches after a success. I hope Simeon is well. And to the fans – a big thank you. The support in the hall is incredible. It can be felt even through the TV screens."

📌Next match: Bulgaria – Ukraine

Against one of the best-performing teams in the tournament so far – Ukraine – the "Lions" will have to show not just character, but will, discipline, and full mobilization. The match is on Sunday, and Simeon Nikolov's condition will be crucial for both the morale and the tactical capabilities of the squad.