botev Plovdiv manager Dimitar Dimitrov addressed the media today, outlining his team’s preparations for Sunday’s First League derby against Beroe at the Hristo Botev Stadium . The press conference also covered upcoming matches against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Levski, as the “Canaries” aim to climb the league standings. Dimitrov detailed recent squad adjustments and addressed challenges in securing Bulgarian players, emphasizing a focus on youth development and strategic foreign signings.
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Botev Plovdiv manager Dimitar Dimitrov, known as Hеро, held a press conference today ahead of the team’s first official match of 2026. The “Canaries” will host Beroe in a regional derby on Sunday at 4:45 PM local time at the Hristo Botev Stadium.
Dimitrov also addressed upcoming clashes against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Levski, signaling a challenging stretch for the club. The team is looking to build momentum as the season progresses and compete for a top spot in the league standings.
“This year, the preparation period was a little shorter,” Dimitrov stated. “We didn’t have ideal timing, but that shouldn’t be an excuse. We accomplished what we planned. I’m also pleased with the new signings, as our squad now has more flexibility.”
When questioned about potential Bulgarian reinforcements, Dimitrov expressed skepticism. “Tell me where there are Bulgarians who can come into our team and raise the level? I don’t know of any,” he said. “We will gradually integrate talent from our academy.”
Antoan Konte will be the last player we bring in. We were looking for balance in the squad. Shande will not be joining us due to excessive financial demands that don’t align with our policy.”
Dimitrov emphasized a focus on the immediate task at hand. “First, we have the match against Beroe, and then we’ll think about the derbies with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Levski.”
The upcoming match against Lokomotiv Plovdiv carries particular weight. “That game, of course, has more emotional significance for me,” Dimitrov admitted. “The whole of Plovdiv is eagerly anticipating it. We hope to secure a victory, but our opponents will be aiming for the same.”
Regarding the Levski match, Dimitrov noted a slight disadvantage in recovery time. “They have one day more to recover. It’s normal when two teams play each other that the previous round they play on the same day.”
Simeon Petrov has been training with the team since the beginning of the week and is expected to be available for the Beroe match. “The new players will need time to catch up, with training,” Dimitrov explained. “We didn’t sign them for the first two matches, but for the entire season and beyond.”
Dimitrov acknowledged the competitive depth within the squad. “I’m currently finding it difficult to choose the starting lineup. It will be tough to determine the starting eleven, but I wish every coach had such difficulties.”
The manager deflected questions regarding comments made by Hristo Krusharski. “I won’t comment on the words of Hristo Krusharski. Let him say what he wants! I’m not at a level to comment on club presidents; he is on a very high level. I am a very small person compared to him to comment on his words. Maybe when I become a president, I will comment on his words, but I am still far from that.”
Dimitrov reiterated the challenges of finding available Bulgarian talent. “There are currently no free Bulgarian footballers on the market. They are tied to contracts, and clubs are asking for a lot of money for them. That’s why we decided to bring in foreign players, while continuing to integrate youth from our academy.”
Watch the full press conference with Dimitrov in the attached video!
