Ivaylo Petev Praises Two Bosnian Players

Bulgarian coach Ivaylo Petev is a frequent subject of discussion in the Bosnian and Herzegovinian media, with his insights highly valued when it comes to the team's performance at the World Cup in North America. "When he was appointed coach of the Bosnian national team, he was met with a torrent of criticism. Fans, colleagues, and most Bosnian media outlets were against the Bulgarian expert's arrival, especially since the favorite of the then-president of the Bosnian Football Association, Elvedin Begić, was Sergej Barbarez. However, in a short time, Petev earned the trust and affection of Bosnia and Herzegovina's fans. This status was secured by Edin Džeko and his teammates, who had nothing but praise for the Bulgarian coach's work on the bench of the Bosnian national team," sportske.ba begins its introduction of the Bulgarian specialist. "He arrived amidst unprecedented resistance and departed like a gentleman, with the highest honors."

The Bulgarian specialist led the team in 2022, winning their group in League B of the Nations League, which promoted them to the top tier and filled the federation's coffers with prize money from UEFA. Petev was primarily asked about two of the most prominent local players – Benjamin Tahirović and Ermedin Demirović.

"Tahirović is a top midfielder for me. Things are a bit complicated for him right now. He shouldn't have gone to Ajax. He should have stayed in Italy. In my opinion, he is a modern, very modern midfielder," Petev states, continuing: "Now, perhaps he needs a little more time and some continuity. I think he should have continued at Brøndby. I think that shook him a bit, but he's a good player for me. Yes, the national team and matches there are a different matter. Pressure and everything else, but what he possesses is the quality God has given him. No one can take that away from him. And he will show it, I'm sure."

And what about Ermedin Demirović?

"Who first gave Demirović the opportunity to play? I did. How many games did he not score in when I was there? Seven. And when did he score? In the 1-0 win over Montenegro, and we finished first in the Nations League with those three points. Everyone wants him to score in every single game, but that time will come. But look at him – he gives his all on the field in every match."

Demirović has been with Stuttgart for two years, having previously played for RB Leipzig's second team, who signed him from Hamburger SV's academy, as well as Freiburg and Augsburg.

"Stuttgart isn't foolish enough to pay 20 million, right? Well, Stuttgart isn't foolish enough to just throw 20 million around. And, damn it, football is strange. Football is strange, do you understand me? Now everyone wants to score three goals, but there's one who scores from every situation – Edin Džeko."

Bosnia and Herzegovina enters its final match against Qatar with one point, and Petev refrains from recommending who should play or offering advice. "Well, I can't tell you that. There's an expert staff there who will decide," Ivaylo Petev said.

Last night, the Bosnians lost 1-4 to Switzerland in a rather peculiar match that was 0-0 until the 74th minute, but then five goals lit up the game. The Bulgarian expert is on vacation and considering offers. He will go to that country if the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team reaches the World Cup semi-finals. However, he refused to provide a detailed analysis of the team, primarily out of respect for Sergej Barbarez, who is currently the national coach.