Ludogorets spend a full hour of training at the ‘Ljudski Vrt’ stadium in Maribor tonight.

All 20 players who arrived in Slovenia took part in the practice session.

The Ludogorets coach Stanislav Genchev is feeling optimistic prior to the Maribor rematch.

‘The situation is surprising and everything happened so fast. I hope everything is positive for us after the rematch. The players are willing to give their best for this important game. The situation with Marcelinho and the previous coach is not a problem anymore. I hope he will be ready to play at his fullest. Do not expect me to tell you what our approach will be. The players will learn the strategy in the locker rooms later. Maribor is the home team and they are experienced as well so we can cover any scenario needed. We can respond to every action they take. We cannot focus on only one thing because this is a Europa League game after all’, said Genchev.

Marcelinho also spoke at the press conference.

 ‘We need to be focused in order to do our job well and succeed. Genchev believes in us and we believe in him. We are always together like a family. When you are here, you know what Ludogorets is all about. We believe each other and our job is to be focused – what’s done is done but it is left in the past. My additional motivation is my invitation to join the Bulgarian national team. But for now the Maribor rematch is all that matters’, Marcelinho added.

PFC Ludogorets will travel to Slovenia on Wednesday morning with a charter flight from Varna Airport. The plane will take off at 10:30 AM. The new coach Stanislav Genchev will attend a press conference at the ‘Ljudski vrt’ stadium at 7:15 PM alongside Marcelinho. The team’s official practice session begins half an hour later.

The team will return to Bulgaria on Thursday at 2:00 AM. They will land at Sofia Airport.

The management of Ludogorets decided to dismiss Stoycho Stoev from the head coach position at the club. The decision was made only minutes after the game against Slavia last night. The team will be temporarily guided by Stoev’s assistants – Stanislav Genchev and Zdravko Zdravkov.

PFC Ludogorets would like to thank Stoev for his contribution to the team’s development.