Markov gives players a breather
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
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Bulgaria have started training for UEFA EURO 2004™ with just 16 of their 23-man squad.
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By Stoyan Georgiev
Bulgaria's preparations for UEFA EURO 2004™ began on a positive note this week as 16 of their 23-man squad arrived at their training camp "with no injury concerns", according to coach Plamen Markov.
Time to rest
Of the remaining seven players, Markov has decided to give Dimitar Berbatov, Martin Petrov, Marian Hristov, Stilian Petrov, Georgi Peev and Predrag Pazin additional time to rest after they were all in action for their clubs at the weekend. Lille OSC forward Vladimir Manchev, meanwhile, reported to the camp but was given the rest of this week off to prepares for his wedding on Sunday.
No concerns
"We have no injury concerns," Markov said. "We will train in Sofia at the [PFC] CSKA [Sofia] training base and the Vassil Levski stadium until our friendly against the Czech Republic in Prague on 2 June. Then we will return to Sofia and continue our preparations until 8 June when we will fly to Portugal."
