Mixed feelings and pride in progress
The head coach of the men's national volleyball team, Gianlorenzo Blengini, spoke to the media after the team's return to Bulgaria. He admitted to having mixed feelings. On the one hand, he is happy that within a year, the team managed to develop to the point where qualification for the Nations League finals is being discussed, but on the other hand, he is disappointed that they missed an excellent chance, remaining just one victory short of the big goal.
"The feeling is good because after only a year together, we reached a point where we are talking about participating in the finals. From the very beginning, we knew this would be a long process and we had a serious path to walk. For everyone, this was something special. I am proud of these guys for taking this important step in their development. Naturally, when we got so close, there is also a disappointment that we couldn't reach the finals," Blengini shared.
Challenges along the way
The coach emphasized that the national team has been dealing with difficulties since the beginning of the competition. The team was without its captain in the very first tournament due to a broken finger. In the second tournament in Burgas, Simeon Nikolov suffered an injury that sidelined him for three days. Additionally, during the course of the competition, Blengini made changes to the lineup and playing system, but this did not negatively affect the team.
"Everyone's desire to give their maximum did not change, and that makes me very happy," emphasized the Italian specialist.
Praise for debutant Damyan Kolev
Blengini did not miss the opportunity to express his satisfaction with the debut of Damyan Kolev, who, according to him, integrated excellently into the team.
"I am pleased with him and everyone else. I am happy that I can rely on a group of 28-30 players who train in Samokov, and for each tournament, I can choose the most suitable 14. In the last tournament, I tried a new tactical variation where Alex Nikolov played as an opposite. This required Rusi Zhelev to return to his primary defensive position, and Kolev contributed positively and showed that he has a future in this team," commented the coach.
Is a psychologist needed in the team
To a question fromvolleyweek.bgregarding the need for a sports psychologist in the team, especially after the sharp fluctuations in performance – from a victory over world No. 1 Poland to a heavy loss to Iran in a decisive match for qualification for the finals in China – Blengini replied:
"I am not a psychologist, and I would not want to evaluate things that are not within my competence. It is not my job to analyze the causes or evaluate specific athletes. But when the team is far from the level we are used to playing at, we cannot pretend that nothing happened and just move on. We must face reality.
After the match with Iran, we had a very positive conversation in the locker room. For me, it was important to hear how the guys felt before and during the match. I believe that in such moments, honesty is extremely important – it's the only way we can grow as a group.
Of course, it may seem like an excuse that some are young and inexperienced, but when we admit our fears and experiences, it can help us react better in the future. This is how we should act not only after a loss but also after a victory – to maintain balance and calmness.
As for the need for a psychologist in the team – I cannot give a definitive answer. However, I believe that with the staff and the active support from the athletes themselves, we can handle such challenges."
