Levski Sofia manager Julio Velazquez expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite a 1-0 defeat to Ludogorets in the Bulgarian Cup quarterfinal on Thursday, February 12, 2026, a result that eliminated them from the tournament.
Velazquez pinpointed missed opportunities as the primary reason for the loss, highlighting the disparity in resources between the two clubs. “The difference was that we didn’t take our chances, and they managed to score on their first one,” he stated. “That goal determined the course of the match.”
“We responded exceptionally well,” Velazquez continued. “We created a lot of chances in attack, were well-positioned in the forward areas, and made a mistake on their goal, but we were also good defensively. We had enough opportunities to score at least one goal before halftime. We wanted to take the initiative in midfield, and we succeeded in bringing the ball forward, often creating three-on-two situations. The boys did very well, creating chances in attack, and we should have gone into the break at least tied.”
After halftime, Velazquez switched to a zonal defense to limit Ludogorets’s attacking width. “Our priority was to stay more compact in the zone and then develop our attacks,” he explained. “The team adapted very well to this change. With the ball, we created a lot of problems in Ludogorets’s half. We weren’t able to score. But let’s not forget we were playing against Ludogorets, a classy team with an exceptional budget. They can create problems out of nothing in those situations. Levski played a very good match and deserved to win. Congratulations to our opponent and thank you to our fans.”
Addressing the two losses to Ludogorets and whether any psychological work would be done, Velazquez remained pragmatic. “I am a realist. You know how many consecutive titles and trophies Ludogorets has. That’s not a matter of chance. The budget difference is very large. For us to dream and fight against such an opponent means a lot to us. Now we will continue to be responsible, and work. We are preparing for our next match against Botev Plovdiv.”
“The advantage comes from the budget,” he added. “We will play the same way until the complete of the championship, day by day, week by week. We will try to maintain our level in the First League.”
Снимка: БГНЕС
