Slavia President Ventseslav Stefanov spoke to the media after the end of the autumn half-season. He did this at the "Bulgaria" Press Club, quoted by Topsport.
"There are footballers in the national team who are 30-32 years old. There are also younger ones. The old ones have rigid habits and football rejects them. If we want to have quality footballers and play in elite clubs... Let there be another Stoichkov, Balakov, Lechkov - we must work very seriously in the clubs to build them up", Stefanov explained how the procedure should be in domestic football.
"Clubs that have money rely on foreigners and in most cases are disappointed. The foreigner comes here to play the match, to have his team washed and then we buy him a ticket to Brazil, Mali, Cape Verde. We don't know if he follows the regime or not. In so many years I have seen things that, to put it mildly, worry me. They don't move for 15 days, they come with 4-5 kilograms on top.
With the exception of 3-4 clubs, the others barely make ends meet. This is the truth.
Bad pitches are excuses. Itso Stoichkov must have only played on warm-up pitches. Enough nonsense. They built a heated pitch at Botev's stadium, but they refused a fake one. I don't blame the people there. I've had similar cases too - the pump not working at the stadium.
Years ago they played on cinders, but there were Gundy, Yakimov, Kolev, Shalamanov... I recently watched a clip of Yakimov doing a Krivko-Kalivchev Garrincha. He showed him that he was no weaker than him.
Some clumsy coaches are doing manual labor. Kids should play with the ball, not do 5 by 60.
Baquero led Slavia for about 10 rounds. Maybe I was wrong. It started with a win, a hiccup against CSKA, and then a decline began. It turned out that it wasn't what I expected. We shook hands and said "goodbye". I had much higher expectations for Zagi. My only problem with him is that he doesn't give the young players enough chances. They can't play for 8-10 minutes. He plays great one game, and the next he's out of the group. The coach has to be a motivator and a psychologist. Even when he's not doing well, give him a chance, because he's 18 years old. At 34, you can't do anything. He's reached his peak. This is my main difference with Zagi. And my other comment is that they can't train for 30-40 minutes. They trained for an hour and a half one week, and then again.
It's a pity for Galin and Ivan Minchev, but the young players have to work, work, work. My views and understandings are that a lot of work is needed.
I recently watched a Levski - CSKA match. And I hear "forward, army men!" I only see two Bulgarians. Where are the army men? Are these the army men we love and support. Beroe, Botev (Plovdiv), Ludogorets, Levski, CSKA. I also watch Botev (Vratsa) with seven foreigners. I'm sure the Bulgarians are not weaker, but those who are given a chance, and not let go like shot rabbits.
Welton, Cordoba? What 20 million? Oh my! What players Levski had.