Trieste.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 one step away from the final.

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

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

Nikolov revealed that he keeps in touch with the 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 expressing his support for Nikolov's performance.

Regarding his second-place finish in the Sportsperson of the Year poll, Nikolov stated that he appreciates 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. He also noted that he had spoken with his brother after the match but emphasized that these conversations are generally always short. "After all, we are men, we don't talk much," the top scorer for Lube and the national team remarked with a smile.

The playoffs are approaching in Italy, where Lube will face Trento. Nikolov noted that their opponent has personnel problems, and according to him, this is an opportunity that the team should fully exploit. 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.