Bulgaria manager Ilian Iliev is adamant he feels “normal” despite tendering his resignation ahead of this week’s Uefa Nations League promotion/relegation playoff against Ireland.
Heavyweight domestic clubs have raised questions about the national team boss’s impartiality as he double-jobs at Varna-based club Cherno More, leading to his threat to quit.
That offer wasn’t accepted by the organisation’s hierarchy and he assembled his squad on Sunday ahead of the two-leg tie to determine which nation resides in the second tier of next year’s fifth Nations League series.
Thursday’s leg in Plovdiv will be followed by the return at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. Ireland are 60th in Fifa’s rankings, 22 places ahead of their hosts.
“I feel normal,” he said ahead of the annual awards, which saw PAOK winger Kiril Despodov named Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row.
“This is an event that can relieve some of the tension around the matches. Let’s not comment on topics that will divide people.
“Everyone wants to develop Bulgarian football and I hope that in time we will have a consensus.
“Now the camp is shorter, we hope that we will perform well and that people will come to support us.
“I don’t have a favourite. Everyone should be happy that they were included in the coaches’ nominations.”
Deputy Executive Director of the Bulgarian Football Union Dobrin Gyonov, downplayed the controversy, while talking up Bulgaria’s prospects of deepening Ireland’s woes.
“I think that even if there are some frictions in opinions, I don’t think it should happen through the media,” he said.
“Since our executive committee meeting last week, things have normalised.
“I met with Ilian Iliev and saw the players training. I saw their mood and I hope that this has been forgotten now.
“Such things should not happen through the media, but we should sit down like big men and understand each other.
“We have a chance because Ireland is not an insurmountable opponent. They are favourites, but if the boys play the game correctly, we have our chances.
“Sometimes a situation and a little chance can tip the scales. We have a real chance to be promoted but even if we don’t, we shouldn’t suffer too much, because there are much more important matches ahead for the World Cup qualifiers later this year.”
