BULGARIA winger Kiril Despodov insisted that the uncertainty over coach Ilian Iliev’s future is not a distraction.
Iliev is expected to leave his post as Bulgaria boss following this week’s Nations League promotion-relegation play-off with Ireland.
The Bulgarian coach – who has lost just one of his 12 games in charge – has come under pressure because he combines his national role with a club post at Cherno More.
His offer to resign two weeks ago was refused, but speculation in Bulgaria is that the Ireland games will be his last in charge.
But PAOK winger Despodov insisted that the rumours are easy to ignore – as trying to win promotion to League B from League C is too big an opportunity for Bulgaria.
Despodov, 28, said: “We don’t have any pressure, we try to keep very compact atmosphere in the team, to be together.
“Only like this can we succeed in the game. We are focused only on the game and we are not looking at other things around, what people are thinking, or posting in the media.”
Iliev added: “There are no problems, I’m actually have been in positions like this before, situations like this.
“We don’t have any worries for the game. Of course it’s normal to have pressure, we are happy to be together.
“I feel we are concentrated on the game. I am not focusing on anything that it says in the Press.”
Bulgaria are in the play-off having finished second in their League C group behind Northern Ireland who they beat 1-0 in Plovdiv but lost 5-0 in Belfast.
That defeat is their only loss of the 12 games under Iliev, as he has developed a side that is tough to beat with eight of the games ending in draws.
But Iliev believes that Ireland, who are hoping to avoid relegation to League C, should be favourites for the clash.
He added: “I don’t think we are favourites in this game.
“I would say we accept reward for hard work that we put in. We have 12 games in the past (and are unbeaten), except Northern Ireland.
“We always go out to win, we will try to do it once again.”
