Manolev quits after Matthaus bust-up
Reuters - Saturday 03 September 2011, 20:31
SOFIA - Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthaus
has dropped Stanislav Manolev, Spas Delev and Alexander Tunchev
from his squad for Tuesday's Euro 2012 Group G qualifier in
Switzerland.
PSV Eindhoven right-back Manolev responded by quitting the
national team. "I will not wear the shirt again under
Matthaus," he told Darik radio.
Manolev had been left out of Friday's 3-0 home defeat by
group leaders England "for not being serious in training."
As for CSKA Sofia striker Delev, the German coach said he
needed to "show him a lesson."
"He is a good player and the door is not closed for him,"
Matthaus told local media. "But he must learn what it means to
be an international player."
Matthaus and the gifted but hot-headed Delev had a heated
discussion before Friday's match and the coach left him out
against England, saying the 22-year-old lacked professionalism.
Tunchev is a central defender who plays his club football
for English Championship team Crystal Palace.
Bulgaria have brought Levski Sofia midfielder Vladimir
Gadzhev into their squad for Tuesday's game.
Matthaus's team have five points from six matches and have
little chance of qualifying for next year's finals.