Lyuboslav Penev: “Armenians are very dangerous if you let them play”

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.