LYUBOSLAV PENEV: "ARMENIANS ARE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU LET THEM PLAY"
Mediamax
Sept 7 2012
Armenia
The exclusive interview of Bulgarian natioan footbal team head coach
Lyuboslav Penev to Mediamax
- What's the mood in Your team today, when just a few days are left
till the beginning of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification?
- I think we are ready for the start of FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying
campaign. We've worked - me and my players, together for 8 months,
we've had 4 friendly games and we are well prepared. My goal when I
took over the position of National Team coach was to build a team with
good spirit, always playing to win, ready to fight for the victory,
and I think I did that more or less. Bulgaria will not lose easily
any match that's for sure.
-How far is Bulgarian national team planning to go?
- I wouldn't like to talk about the distant future. We must prepare
each game of the Bulgaria National Team very carefully, paying respect
to the opponent but thinking mostly about our weaknesses. Each training
session we have to work hard to correct the mistakes and to develop
our style.
-What kind of football we shall expect from Bulgaria national team
during the upcoming 2 matches against Italy and Armenia?
- My credo as a player was that I must help the team in every
possible way to play aggressive football and to try to score as much
as possible. That hasn't changed. Now I'm a coach and I believe that
with discipline, intelligence and aggression Bulgaria can make each
opponent suffer.
- What do You think about Group B and Bulgaria's opponents?
Tough group, none of the teams could be underestimated. It's a group
where everything could happen, but I'm not focused on that. The purpose
for Bulgaria will be each game to play good football and to try to
win. Italy is the favorite for the first place of course, but Czech
Republic and Denmark were present at the last European Championship
as well.
- Your first match is against Italy. How do You rate Bulgaria's
chances?
- We have one big advantage and it is that we'll play at home. At Vasil
Levski stadium in Sofia Bulgaria can beat everyone. Italy is still
one of the best teams in the world so it will be an interesting game.
- And what are You hoping to get out of the September 11 match
against Armenia?
- Victory.
-What do You know about Armenian football? Any players you would like
to note?
- I know very well the way National Team of Armenia plays. They play
quick football on the counterattacks and are very dangerous if you
let them play. I wouldn't want to note one particular player because
Armenia is a good team as a whole.
- Are there any changes in the national team of Bulgaria, or the
squad remains as usual?
- A few, but generally the players with quality for international
football are not so many.
- We would like to ask you about Dimitar Berbatov's possible return
to Bulgaria national team. Do you find it possible that he will
ever return?
- This case is closed. I invited Dimitar to be part of the National
Team again, but his final decision was not to play for Bulgaria
anymore.
- Please predict the place in the Group where Bulgaria will appear
after the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification?
- That's a tricky question. I'm a football coach not a fortune teller.
Narine Daneghyan talked to Lyuboslav Penev for Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Mediamax
Sept 7 2012
Armenia
The exclusive interview of Bulgarian natioan footbal team head coach
Lyuboslav Penev to Mediamax
- What's the mood in Your team today, when just a few days are left
till the beginning of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification?
- I think we are ready for the start of FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying
campaign. We've worked - me and my players, together for 8 months,
we've had 4 friendly games and we are well prepared. My goal when I
took over the position of National Team coach was to build a team with
good spirit, always playing to win, ready to fight for the victory,
and I think I did that more or less. Bulgaria will not lose easily
any match that's for sure.
-How far is Bulgarian national team planning to go?
- I wouldn't like to talk about the distant future. We must prepare
each game of the Bulgaria National Team very carefully, paying respect
to the opponent but thinking mostly about our weaknesses. Each training
session we have to work hard to correct the mistakes and to develop
our style.
-What kind of football we shall expect from Bulgaria national team
during the upcoming 2 matches against Italy and Armenia?
- My credo as a player was that I must help the team in every
possible way to play aggressive football and to try to score as much
as possible. That hasn't changed. Now I'm a coach and I believe that
with discipline, intelligence and aggression Bulgaria can make each
opponent suffer.
- What do You think about Group B and Bulgaria's opponents?
Tough group, none of the teams could be underestimated. It's a group
where everything could happen, but I'm not focused on that. The purpose
for Bulgaria will be each game to play good football and to try to
win. Italy is the favorite for the first place of course, but Czech
Republic and Denmark were present at the last European Championship
as well.
- Your first match is against Italy. How do You rate Bulgaria's
chances?
- We have one big advantage and it is that we'll play at home. At Vasil
Levski stadium in Sofia Bulgaria can beat everyone. Italy is still
one of the best teams in the world so it will be an interesting game.
- And what are You hoping to get out of the September 11 match
against Armenia?
- Victory.
-What do You know about Armenian football? Any players you would like
to note?
- I know very well the way National Team of Armenia plays. They play
quick football on the counterattacks and are very dangerous if you
let them play. I wouldn't want to note one particular player because
Armenia is a good team as a whole.
- Are there any changes in the national team of Bulgaria, or the
squad remains as usual?
- A few, but generally the players with quality for international
football are not so many.
- We would like to ask you about Dimitar Berbatov's possible return
to Bulgaria national team. Do you find it possible that he will
ever return?
- This case is closed. I invited Dimitar to be part of the National
Team again, but his final decision was not to play for Bulgaria
anymore.
- Please predict the place in the Group where Bulgaria will appear
after the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification?
- That's a tricky question. I'm a football coach not a fortune teller.
Narine Daneghyan talked to Lyuboslav Penev for Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress