Ludogorets joy after earning Bulgaria's first points
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Article summary
"I didn't really know what to do with the ball so just hit it – that was a good decision, I guess," said Yordan Minev as PFC Ludogorets Razgrad reflected on a historic win.
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Article body
• Yordan Minev's added-time winner earns Bulgaria's first group stage points
• Minev admits he did not know what to do with his chance "so just hit it"
• Ludogorets now want second place in Group B – "nothing less"
• Behind the scenes photos at the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski
• Next games: Basel v Ludogorets (4 November)
Yordan Minev, Ludogorets defender
It was a very important goal and I'm glad I scored it. I didn't really know what to do with the ball so I just hit it – that was a good decision, I guess. I could see how happy all the people were in the stands and that was an extraordinary moment in my life. I think we controlled most of the game and the most important thing is that we won in the end. Now I want second place in Group B, nothing less.
Marcelinho, Ludogorets midfielder
We deserved the win, we were the better team over 90 minutes. We created a lot of good chances but the ball wouldn't go in for a long, long time. In the end it did and we achieved this historic win. It was historic for our small club, for our fantastic fans at the stadium and for all Bulgarians. I'm very happy I was on the pitch and now we are all up for more. We're level with Basel and Liverpool after three matches. Why can't we go through?
Mihail Alexandrov, Ludogorets midfielder
I'm delighted. This was another great match and a great atmosphere. We had really good games against Liverpool and Real Madrid but ended empty-handed. Today we can be very proud. We have won a historic match, getting the first points for a Bulgarian side in the Champions League group stage. We were on target for our first point but we still believed we could get more and we did. Fantastic!
Georgi Dermendjiev, Ludogorets coach
I am happy for the team, for the club, for the players – they proved what they are capable of. Basel are a very good team and we won. Even with ten men [following Geoffroy Serey Die's 18th-minute red card] Basel played extremely well. It is nice to score late on. We did it against Steaua in the play-offs and now again. We dominated the second half, but sometimes you have to wait. We are so proud. The game in Basel in two weeks' time will be very important.
Paulo Sousa, Basel coach
In the second half it was much harder for us. Ludogorets pressed hard and created several chances, but we played very well at the back. We controlled the last few minutes, committed men forward, but one counterattack killed us. I am very proud with the way we played but obviously disappointed with the result. The group is very competitive, anything is possible. We still have two games at home. The fans will vital, like they were against Liverpool.
Fabian Frei, Basel midfielder
Everything went wrong. There are days like these, we have to accept that. We fought for 90 minutes to take a point with ten men and I think it would have been a deserved point in the end. We went into this game aiming to win, to keep the ball. Then we got this red card and everything changed. So we are still on three points, like Liverpool and Ludogorets, but we are the only one of the trio with two home matches left so I'm optimistic.
Davide Calla, Basel midfielder
To play a Champions League match from the start, with the moment before the match when the anthem is played – that's something really special. Then there was the disappointment. I would have liked to crown this special day with a win and that was definitely a possibility. But with ten men it was really hard for us. We deserved at least a point.