Ivan Tasev: “The rise is due to the good team and the implementation of the coach's instructions”

In summer 2020 year, a teenager from Pirin hinted at potential. In control against Arda (2:0) a weak boy appeared on the field as a reserve and soon managed to make a penalty. Even then he made an application, that he will play serious football. However, a lot of time has passed since that sparring, in which the player in question never came under the spotlight, although it is fast and sharp. And so on 5 March 2022, when he started for the first time as a starter for Blagoevgrad when visiting the Black Sea (1:1). In the 50th minute, he jumped out from behind the defense and scored between the legs of the goalkeeper. His name is Ivan Tasev – born 27 April 2002. The Eagles' winger agreed to answer questions from “Theme Sports”.

Ivan, made an excellent debut as a starter against the Black Sea, was there a pre-start fever?

– Of course, this is normal. If an athlete does not have a special thrill before a competition, it's just not for this job. I am like that before every game. I am glad, that you performed well. I will strive to show better and better results in the future.

What the experienced players told you before the match “Run”?

– Everyone was talking to me: “Calm down, you will do it. There's nothing to worry about. Even if you make a mistake, it is not fatal”. But other words were more important: “Show desire and fight to the last. That's the only way you can prove yourself”. I know, that only if you work constantly, you can succeed.

Apparently you listened to them…

– I am glad, that it looked like that from the side.

And what did the coach Radoslav Mitrevski and the sports director Petar Mihtarski tell you?

– They get along very well with me. They are both excellent specialists, they know how to predispose the players and this can be seen from the results. Mr. Mihtarski is constantly throwing me a joke. He kept asking me: “When will you score?”. He told me after the match, that on the bench he stated, that I will sign exactly in this match. And so it happened. The coach also talked to me a lot before the match, was convinced, that it will perform well. His words helped me a lot.

On “Run” managed to complete an excellent attack, as i see?

– I had the feeling from the very beginning, that things will work out for us – just a premonition. We played well, and after the ball reached Stanislav Kostov and he took it well, I immediately went behind the defense, because I knew, that he will give it to me. No one from the Black Sea was able to follow me. At the end, maybe I was lucky, because the ball went through the goalkeeper's feet. Overall, it was a perfect attack, ended with a very important goal. Yes, we failed to win, but the point is also very important to us. We started to show a good game and hopefully keep the level in the next important matches.

You have been in an excellent series since the end of autumn – 3 won and 2 equality. What do you attribute it to?

– To the good team and strictly follow the instructions of the coach. I think we can avoid the battle for survival. I am confident, that we will accumulate more points and Pirin will remain in the First League. We don't have the word “survival”. All meetings will be very important, because I believe, that we can fall into the second playoff group – from 7th to 10th place. I believe, that we will succeed. Because the battles for salvation from relegation are not pleasant at all and are even more difficult. think, that we proved, that we are a strong team. The other teams are already looking at us with a different eye. Because, except that we have no losses in recent matches, we play well in them. Everyone already sees our strength and understands, that it is difficult to play against us. We must continue to prove it.

What changed Radoslav Mitrevski compared to Warren Feeney?

– I'm not the man, who must comment on these works. I will just say, that we are currently training a lot on tactics and on all aspects of the game. This works. It is also local, he has walked all the way from the junior team, through a player and now a coach. It is clear what is required, as well as Petar Mihtarski.

How do you rate your stay in September Simitli?

– I was transferred there last season. I'd say, that then I had a big drop, I have already forgotten it. I didn't play much there, I had also lost desire, I failed to gain the trust of the coaches. It is gratifying, that after returning to Pirin I regained my confidence and got into rhythm. During the summer training I scored 4 naked in 5 match. Then I thought, that I will deserve the chance. Yes, in the fall I came in only as a reserve, but that was the judgment of the coaches.

Surprising or not, in recent years, the club's teenager has failed to make a breakthrough…

-I hope I succeed, as many others have done some time ago. Young people are working hard, we have to prove to the coaching staff, that we deserve time on the field. This is a unique opportunity for us at the moment, because we have experienced players in our team, wore the captain's armband in the national team – Bodurov, Manolev, Dyakov, Zanev. Rarely do young players have such a chance and can learn from such players. They have seen everything, and we just have to soak up and listen to them. We also need to believe in it and want it very much, which we pursue. They teach us to understand the game, help us faster to “we will enter the hour”. That is why I want to thank them especially for their dedication. This is very important for us. They keep telling me and they want me to grow.