Leeds United have nine players on international duty during the October break, but for one player, it is likely to be a bit awkward as he reunites with his fellow countryman.
Including Isaac Schmidt, nine will represent their countries over the next week or so. Dan James is missing for Wales, but Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu have been recalled after missing September through injury.
Then, Mauricio Pochettino has reinstated Brenden Aaronson for games against Ecuador and Australia this month, having omitted the Leeds man from his squad in September. Aaronson has been excellent of late.
Joe Rodon and Karl Darlow are in action for Wales again, while Schmidt will face Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jaka Bijol. Ilia Gruev will have the tough task of reigniting Bulgaria’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Rules in place to avoid ‘serious internal conflict’ with Leeds player
The last break was a car crash for Gruev. Reports from Bulgaria say Gruev was involved in a ‘scandal’, that saw the Leeds player take aim at former Bulgaria boss Ilian Iliev and teammates after a 3-0 loss to Spain.
Gruev was removed from the squad by Iliev to face Georgia a few days later, only to be reinstated by the Bulgarian FA president, who had caught wind of the incident. He was benched, coming on at half-time.
Iliev has now been sacked and replaced by Alexander Dimitrov. Now, Dimitrov told Bulgaria FA’s YouTube that he’s enforced rules and fines to avoid what Football24 describes, another ‘serious internal conflict’.
“The first rule is to have human and friendly relationships. At the same time, discipline, dedication, and discretion. Rules will be discussed with the players. Fines will be proposed by the players,” Dimitrov said.
Bulgaria’s chances of World Cup qualifying are flatlining
After consecutive 3-0 defeats to Spain and Georgia, Bulgaria’s chances of World Cup qualification are all but over. Yet, Bulgaria have four games to pick themselves up and go again, starting with Turkey.
They face Turkey in Levski on Saturday evening, a game that Bulgaria will ultimately need to win to stand any chance of qualification. They then face Spain in Valladolid next week, which seems an impossible task.
World Cup qualifying table (Europe) Group E
| Position | Nation | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | GD | Points |
| 1. | Spain | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 |
| 2. | Georgia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3. | Turkey | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 3 |
| 4. | Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
Especially given Gruev has now gone a year without a win with Bulgaria. He was absent through injury for Bulgaria’s last win. Dimitrov will have to work miracles to help Bulgaria get a result in the next two games.
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