Europa League

LOKOMOTIV PLOVDIV will hope to have a mental edge when they face Tottenham in the Europa League – thanks to two glamorous psychologists.
Katie Vandova and Lilia Stefanova have been helping the Bulgarian club adopt a more modern approach to their game for over a year.

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Katie Vandova (left) and Lilia Stefanova (right) are pioneering the use of psychology in Bulgarian football

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The pair founded their own psychology business and Katie even runs a cosmetics line

The pair joined just before Plovdiv’s first Bulgarian Cup win in its history, in May 2019, before they successfully defended their crown last season.
That put Bruno Akrapovic’s side into the Europa League qualifiers, where they dispatched Iskra Danilovgrad of Montenegro to set up a tie with Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.
And the psychologists are one of the secret ingredients guiding the Bulgarian club to success.
Lilia, 30, holds a Masters in psychology from Sofia’s New Bulgarian University while Katie has studied both cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and accounting.

Together they founded the KeLi Psychology Academy, even being drafted in to help the Bulgarian national team.
Both girls are well known in the Balkans, in particular Romania.

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Lilia studied cognitive science and psychology before entering the world of sportCredit: Instagram

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The glamorous psychologist regularly posts pictures from games and her holidays to her thousands of Instagram followersCredit: Instagram
In an interview with Bulgarian outlet Lupa, Lilia outlined her skills, saying: “We are psychologists and more precisely – psychotherapists, we upgrade, so to speak.
“We deal with cognitive-behavioural therapy, and Katie with scheme therapy.

“We can make them more confident, motivated and calmer. We can resolve internal conflicts, make them a team.
“Psychology works with words and psychiatry works with pills. In fact, who interviews psychologists? Nobody!
“They talk to us. Almost no one is interested in it, no one writes about psychology, no publicity is given to it.”
Katie added: “We can’t influence the physical condition of the team. We can only influence their mental state, their self-esteem, their motivation.”

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Lokomotiv Plovdiv fans are enjoying a rare bout of success ahead of Thursday’s game with SpursCredit: Getty – Contributor
The pair have been practicing psychology since 2017 and Katie even operates her own line of cosmetics.
Lilia often posts pictures from inside Plovdiv’s stadium to her Instagram account and insists she is more than capable of handling the problems of the modern footballer.
Some have expressed concern over female psychologists being able to work with men, to which she replied: “This is discrimination!

“Does this mean that all women who practice psychology, medicine and law should be removed? It should not be so.”
Katie agreed, adding: “On the contrary, we didn’t worry for a moment [about working with footballers], we were always confident. We are not in this field to worry about whether we will manage.
“We felt comfortable, on the spot, with confidence, because we have the knowledge and we are professionals.” More

ERIC DIER has accused fixture chiefs of putting players’ welfare at risk.
The England defender will line up for Tottenham in their Europa League qualifier against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria on Thursday night.

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Eric Dier says Spurs’ players are ‘big boys’ and can handle criticism from boss Jose Mourinho – but he is unhappy at a hectic scheduleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Tottenham and England star Eric Dier insists Dele Alli is fine despite being hauled off early in the 1-0 loss at home to EvertonCredit: Rex Features

It could kick-start a gruelling run of five games in 10 days for the North Londoners.
And Dier fears such a hectic schedule is putting him and his team-mates at risk.
He said: “In terms of our schedule, from a welfare point of view, I think there’s obviously no care for the players’ welfare, from that point of view. 
“I don’t know how we’re going to fare with it.

“The depth of the squad is the strongest it’s been in my time at Tottenham – if you look at the players who were on the bench on Sunday and the players not even in the squad.
‘There’s fantastic depth and fantastic quality throughout the squad.

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“The manager emphasised that if we want to be successful, if we want to win games and go far then this is all about the squad and the squad performing.
“But if you look at that schedule, that schedule isn’t showing any care for players’ physical welfare. I think it’s common sense really.

“To try to ask someone to play Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, it doesn’t seem like there is any care for players’ welfare in that situation.”
Spurs will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 loss at home to Everton in their Premier League opener on Sunday.
Boss Jose Mourinho slammed his players’ display and branded them “lazy”.
Dier said: “We’re men. We’re not kids. The manager isn’t making those comments to try to affect us in a negative way. He’s just giving his assessment of how the game went.

We’re big boys. Football is not a nice world – it’s about results and performances. Dele is not the first person to be taken off at half-time.
Eric Dier

“We have to accept that, take that on board and try to change.
“As players we’re all very self critical of ourselves and our own performances. I don’t think anybody would be more than ourselves.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and everybody was very disappointed with the result and performance.
“With the schedule, you’ve got to get over it quickly and move on and that’s what we’re going to do. The most important thing is the way in which we react.
“If you want to be competitive and a big club, then it’s all about the way you react after poor performances and results.”
Dele Alli is sweating on his place after Mourinho subbed him at half-time against the Toffees.

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Eric Dier believes Spurs playing up to five games in ten games is ridiculousCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dier said: “He took me off after 30 minutes against Olympiakos last season. That was even worse!
“Dele’s fine. We’re big boys. Football is not a nice world – it’s all about results and performances and Dele is not the first person to be taken off at half-time.
“I don’t think it’s the first time he’s been taken off at half-time and it probably won’t be the last. The same goes for all of us. That can happen in football.
“If you want to be at a big club and a big player, it’s about the way you react and the way you take that and move forward.
“Knowing Dele and his mentality, he’ll take that in that way. He’ll work even harder and try to push on from there.”
Mourinho said: “The change at half-time was not the first time in my career and it will not be the last time.

“I did even more than that, not many times but a few times, the last one was with Eric Dier against Olympiakos where I took him off with 25-30 minutes in the game.
“When I do these kinds of things, I do it for the team. In some cases, the option was proven right. In some other cases, the option is proven wrong.
“In this case it didn’t work. The second half against Everton was not better than the first half. That’s my job, to make decisions and to try the best for the team when I’m not happy with a performance.”
Asked how Dele reacted to being taken off after 45 minutes, Mourinho said: “Dele is a very polite guy, very calm. He’s a bit introspective, when you think a lot about things. The way he reacted was Dele.

“It was quiet, sad, but in the end, after the game, he was just one of many. But again, I repeat, he’s a good boy. Very, very polite.
“And I never saw from him in here with myself, with the other players, everybody at the club, I never saw a strong reaction. A good boy. A really good boy.”
Bearing in mind Mourinho’s foul-mouthed “nice guys finish last” rants shown in the behind-the-scenes Amazon documentary of the club, you wonder if it was barbed criticism of the player.

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RANGERS are living in style ahead of their clash with Lincoln Red Imps after booking themselves into a SUPER-YACHT, according to reports.
The Light Blues are in Gibraltar ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League qualifying clash with the minnows.

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Rangers are reportedly staying at the five-star hotel on this £120m super-yacht as they face Lincoln Red Imps

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The Scottish side can make the most of the restaurant in the stunning ship

Typically, they would check into hotels on dry land for the duration of their stay on European trips.
But according to the Daily Record, Rangers are staying in the £120million Sunborn superyacht hotel.
Boasting five-star accommodation, the ship is docked in Gibraltar’s promenade and has its very own casino.
It also has its a fully kitted-out gym and spa facilities, as well as a restaurant and selection of bars.

So while Gers may find it tough on the pitch in the heat of Gibraltar tomorrow night, they’ll certainly live in luxury beforehand.
Rangers jetted out to the British overseas territory from Glasgow Airport yesterday.
And Alfredo Morelos was on the plane alongside his team-mates despite being stretchered off at Ibrox on Saturday.
Reports yesterday claimed the Colombian was facing two weeks on the sidelines after being left with a nasty gash on his leg.

This is the kind of room Steven Gerrard’s men can expect to be staying in on the yacht

There is a fully-equipped gym room on board giving the players the chance to do a bit of extra work

The Sunborn hotel also includes its very own casino as well as bar and spa facilities

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He sustained the wound when Dundee United star Ryan Edwards caught him above the knee after tackling him.
However, Morelos has been included in Steven Gerrard’s travelling party for tomorrow’s game and looked in good spirits as he boarded the plane and trained.
Allan McGregor and Jermain Defoe were also present for the flight after overcoming their injuries.
But Ryan Jack and Brandon Barker have both missed out on the trip after being two of four Ibrox stars that were crocked at the weekend.
Leon Balogun was injured in the warm-up ahead of the game against Dundee United while Jack and Barker were both forced off with injury during the course of the first half.

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Alfredo Morelos travelled and trained with Rangers despite being stretchered off at the weekendCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

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Gerrard, pictured in Gibraltar last year, will be hoping his injury-hit side can get past the minnowsCredit: SNS Group
Rangers boss Gerrard said: “Leon has felt a bit of tightness in his quad. Hopefully we’ve got to that one early.
“We had a choice to take a risk with that one but there was no need as we had Filip Helander ready to come in.
“That happened before the game but it wasn’t ideal. 
“Jack has a calf problem, which we’ll need to scan to see the extent of that.
“Barker has done a hamstring, which is normally at least a couple of weeks.”

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JOSE MOURINHO could ring the changes for Tottenham’s Thursday night Europa League trip to Lokomotiv Plovdiv – starting with axing Dele Alli.
The mercurial attacking midfielder was hooked at half-time on Sunday as Tottenham slumped to a dismal 1-0 defeat against Everton in North London.

How Spurs could line up against Lokomotiv Plovdiv

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Dele Alli had a disappointing season-opener against EvertonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

An according to ex-England international Gabriel Agbonlahor, Mourinho and Alli, 24, had fallen out even before the match.
The former Aston Villa star-turned-talkSPORT pundit said: “I feel like they need a No 10 as well because I’m hearing from a good source that Dele Alli and Mourinho have fallen out.”
Mourinho, 57, is determined to treat each competition with respect, but is likely to make wholesale changes given that with progression to the next round Spurs could face a gruelling nine games in just 24 days.
He said: “If we decide that one of these competitions is not important for us, we go against the nature of the club, we go against our own nature, we go against our ambitions because in the Europa League and the League Cup, we have our ambitions.”

Paulo Gazzaniga appears to have been harshly ousted as No2 goalkeeper, with Joe Hart having featured on the bench as Hugo Lloris’ back-up on Sunday – and the former England stopper could be handed his competitive Spurs debut in Bulgaria.
Serge Aurier remains at the club despite having been linked with a move away, and could make his first outing of the season at right-back.
With Japhet Tanganga injured and Juan Foyth out-of-favour, Eric Dier could continue at centre-back – with Davinson Sanchez recalled in place of Toby Alderweireld.
Danny Rose has not even been issued a squad number, so youngster Ryan Sessegnon may get some rare game time at left-back if Ben Davies is deemed to require a rest.

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Joe Hart could be handed a competitive Spurs debutCredit: PA:Press Association

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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be given another outing in midfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty

New signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be retained and given another chance to shine after an underwhelming debut, with Moussa Sissoko also reinstated after coming on at half-time against the Toffees.
Record-signing Tanguy Ndombele may be given a chance to shine as a third member of the midfield, although Mourinho may choose to opt for January-signing Gedson Fernandes instead.
Giovani Lo Celso is likely to miss out through injury, but could return at the weekend.
With the Spurs boss having not yet acquired a new striker, the burden of deputising for a rested Harry Kane could fall on the shoulders of Lucas Moura, with Steven Bergwijn and Erik Lamela offering creativity from the flanks.

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Lucas Moura may be given another go up front with Harry Kane restedCredit: EPA

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BRUNO FERNANDES confirmed his Manchester United team-mate Victor Lindelof launched an X-rated rant at him in the defeat to Sevilla.
But the Portuguese star insisted the close friends made up with a hug afterwards and there were no hard feelings.

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Bruno Fernandes admitted Victor Lindelof blasted him with an X-rated rant in Portuguese during the defeat to SevillaCredit: BT Sport
Lindelof and Fernandes were involved in a heated exchange as the Red Devils crashed out of the Europa League semi-finals, with the latter unhappy at the Sweden international’s defending for Luuk de Jong’s winner.
At the time Fernandes declared the blazing row as “normal” in the tense match scenario.
It was reported that Lindelof called Fernandes a “son of a b****” on the pitch in Cologne.
And speaking to A Bola, the January signing conceded Lindelof – who spent five years with Benfica – had some choice words to say.

Fernandes said: “He is one of the people with whom I have the best relationship in the club, also because he speaks Portuguese, and as everyone saw he speaks well.
“Those were obviously the first words he learned in Portugal, it is always what we teach them.
“But it was a game situation that none took to heart. It ended and we went directly to our countries, he to Sweden and I to Portugal.
“At the farewell we hugged, we leaned our heads and didn’t even need to talk to each other.

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Fernandes admitted Lindelof is one of his closest friends at Old Trafford and soon made up after the spatCredit: EPA

“We stayed there for those two seconds hugging and we realised what we wanted to say to each other.”
Fernandes also hit back at critics who claimed he only scores penalties by comparing his stats to Kevin De Bruyne’s.
And he went on to admit he could one day go back to play for Sporting Lisbon, the team Manchester United signed him from for an initial £47million.
The Portuguese star added: “I want you to know that I liked, and I like, Sporting, I really enjoyed being there.
“I lived the club more than 100 per cent, every day at all hours, always with maximum intensity and love and passion for Sporting.”
On returning, he continued: “Who knows? I don’t close that door.”

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