The Arda Chronicle
Market3 Jan 2028
Dominik Yankov puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Arda, and it is not being withdrawn.
The dugout3 Jan 2028
Preslav Bachev says Arda went back on their word
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad3 Jan 2028
Félix Eboa Eboa honoured for the season
The kind of year that ends with a name being read out in a hall. Arda had the benefit of it every week and now have the problem of everybody else knowing.
Transfer targets3 Jan 2028
Arda rebuffed over Andrej Kostić
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. AC Milan have kept their man, and Arda go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Match1 Jan 2028
Botev Plovdiv take the points off Arda
Beaten 1‑2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Squad3 Jan 2028
Words at Arda training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Gustavo Cascardo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout3 Jan 2028
The manager makes an example of Gustavo Cascardo
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout3 Jan 2028
Kristian Dimitrov faces the questions
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Kristian Dimitrov after 1‑2, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
Squad3 Jan 2028
Words exchanged at Arda
Edoardo Contiero and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
In brief
- Squad Preslav Bachev slips down the pecking order
- The dugout When it matters, Dimitar Velkovski plays
- Looking ahead Dominik Yankov faces his old club