Experienced national team player Nasya Dimitrova did not spare her opinion before Bulgaria's departure for the World Championship in Thailand. During the open training session at the Hristo Botev hall in the capital, she was adamant that the absence of the four most experienced players is a serious blow to the team's performance and that the so-called "growth" during the period without them was not actually real.

"Without the four of us, it was a great struggle"

"You saw that the period when the four of us (Elitsa Atanasijevic, Hristina Vuchkova, Lora Kitipova, and I) were not in the national team was a great struggle, let's just say it directly. Although other things were claimed, that the team was growing, I personally believe that this is not the case for these 2 years that we were absent. Yes, we achieved 4 wins in the VNL and that was very important, we beat many key opponents. But I believe that what was said for 2 years, that a young team was being built, I don't see that. Even more of the girls who were with Micelli are now gone, so... it's a tough story."

With these words, Dimitrova directly challenged the notion that under Lorenzo Micelli's leadership, the foundation of a young and promising national team had been laid.

Skepticism towards the "young team" and the replacement of experience with enthusiasm

According to her, the freshness that young players bring is undeniable, but their inexperience is obvious. "After all, they are young and inexperienced, and with us more experienced players, I hope they gain a little more confidence and show even better play going forward." Dimitrova emphasized that the loss of figures like Elitsa Atanasijevic is a serious challenge: "Eli is one of the main drivers of the team and one of the leaders. It will be quite difficult for us without her."

Between the lines – sympathy for Ivan Petkov and a possible end to her national career

For a long time, it has been an open secret in Bulgarian volleyball circles that Nasya Dimitrova is among the supporters of former coach Ivan Petkov and is dissatisfied that he is not at the helm of the national team. There are also hints that this may be her last participation with the Bulgarian team.

Thus, instead of focusing on the ambition "to get out of the group," the middle blocker focused on criticizing the way the squad's "rejuvenation" is being carried out and the lack of continuity between generations.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov