Alex Nikolov did not hide his disappointment after the 1:3 (25:27, 28:30, 25:17, 21:25) loss to Verona in the Italian Supercup semi-final. The Bulgarian international was adamant that his team was a step away from the final.

"A little. Really little. We had several game points. In one of the situations, we used video review and the ball was in by ten centimeters. Against a team like Verona, when you have a chance to close out a set, you have to do it. They don't give you many opportunities," commented Nikolov.

The outside hitter emphasized that it was the missed opportunities in key moments that tipped the scales. According to him, in such matches, details decide everything, and every unutilized situation weighs double.

Nikolov revealed that he maintains contact with national coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, who was in the hall in Trieste and watched his performance. The two spoke after the semi-final, with the conversation being short and friendly, and the coach expressed his support for his play.

Regarding his second-place finish in the Athlete of the Year poll, Nikolov stated that he is pleased with the recognition but is aware that major titles are needed to reach the top position. He expressed hope that volleyball would once again return among the leading sports in Bulgaria and unite people as it did in its strongest years.

The playoffs in Italy are approaching, where Lube will face Trento. Nikolov noted that their opponent has personnel problems, and according to him, this is an opportunity that the team must make the most of. Despite the busy schedule, he remains optimistic about the upcoming battles and looks forward to the summer and the national team, provided his health is in order.