Dominik Yankov: I am very grateful to Ludogorets – BG Football – efbet Liga

Dominik Yankov is the first teenager sold to Ludogorets for a lot of money in a foreign club. According to Transfermarkt, he was bought by Montreal for 1.85 million euros, which is a really serious amount by native standards. Part of this amount was invested in their school in Razgrad.

Dominik Yankov agreed to speak to Match Telegraph and gave his first extensive interview since his transfer to Canada. As is known, the Bulgarian national was born in Toronto and now he actually returned to his homeland. His Montreal team is part of the MLS, and great players such as Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Hugo Lloris, Xherdan Shaqiri, Christian Benteke, Victor Wanyama, Luis Muriel, Maya Yoshida and many others play there.

– Dominique, hello, how are you feeling in Canada 3 months after your transfer to Montreal?

– Everything is great. I had a bit of trouble last week and missed 2 games due to an old injury, but I was back in the last game against Orlando City. I underwent special medical examinations that showed me what I should focus on. We didn’t risk it so it wouldn’t get worse. I am recovering to keep my muscles healthy.

– When did the offer come from Montreal and did it surprise you?

– Montreal wanted me 2 years ago, but then a transfer did not happen. But now I wanted to leave, to go to a new country, to change the environment. The offer came in the winter window. The club knew that I wanted to go to a new place and that’s how the transfer happened.

– Did you need acclimatization, given that you were born and raised in Canada?

– I lived in Canada until I was 13 years old. Then I was in England for 3 years, where I played in Sunderland. In the country, I got used to it easily, but football is quite different. It’s dynamic, back and forth. We train much more than in Bulgaria. But still here we have one match a week, and with Ludogorets – almost always two matches a week.

– Does your team Montreal play their matches at the beautiful Saputo Stadium?

– Yes, we play our home games in front of a minimum of 25,000 spectators. Thus, the attitude changes and is quite different from what is in Bulgaria.

– With what feelings did you leave Ludogorets, where you spent so many years and made your debut in men’s football?

– I am very grateful for everything to Ludogorets. I have won many team and individual awards. The club that gave me a way into men’s football, to play in Europe. I faced very serious teams in Europe. The first two years I played regularly in Ludogorets. But after that, a year, a year and a half was hard for me and I had to do something. It was hard for me, I suffered from several injuries, and some coaches didn’t count on me. I played 5-10 minutes against the underdogs in the championship. The last coach wouldn’t let me go regularly. And every teammate of mine knows that I treated myself professionally and always gave my best in training. Otherwise, I would like to say that I am also grateful to Botev Vratsa, where I played on loan.

– Do you follow the Bulgarian championship?

– Yes of course. After I get home from training, I watch matches from Bulgaria. However, I have many friends who are footballers. Todor Nedelev and Spas Delev in Ludogorets, Turitsa does not play regularly in CSKA, but I constantly watch matches from the Bulgarian championship.

– It is clear that Ludogorets is a hair away from its 13th consecutive title. But can the team make it to the Champions League final?

– They have quality players, but the draw in the qualifiers is very important. And if it is very difficult in the Champions League, we know that Ludogorets can play successfully in the Europa League or in the Conference League.

– From which football player did you learn the most in your career?

– At the age of 17-18, I started training with the best – Misidjan, Marcelinho, Vandersson, Kesheryu, Dyakov. The lady is a very important person. Anton Nedyalkov too. I have taken something from each.

– It makes an impression that you are one of the few Bulgarian players who control the ball without looking at it. Where did you learn this – in Bulgaria, England or Canada?

– I don’t know, really. It’s just that when I have the ball I look for the empty spaces and I don’t look at the ball. The purpose of football is to score goals and play forward.

– Your first match in the USA was against Inter Miami, but without Leo Messi. Are you looking forward to the second duel of the season against them?

– Yes, our match with Inter Miami is coming up on May 11 and I can’t wait to face Leo Messi after he didn’t play in the first match. Then Leo was sitting right next to the pitch. On the side, with his whole family, with his bodyguard. It was a unique feeling that he was there, and that Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba were on the field. Looking at them looks like you’re in a game. However, you don’t think so on the field. You are focused on the match, which we won 3:2. At FIFA I played with them and suddenly to see them live… It’s incredible. I even have a funny story with Busquets from the Inter Miami match. Coach told me to keep it. And while I was next to him on the field, I decided to ask him for a shirt. He told me he would have given it to me, but he had promised it to Will Smith (laughs).

– Many great footballers from all over the world play in the MLS, but is it a good place for the development of young players?

– There are young footballers from all over the world. They play attacking here and if you shine, you will easily make a step towards European football. My teammate Josep Martinez played with Miguel Almiron, who is now also at Newcastle, and he gives me that as an example.

– Your captain is Victor Wanyama, who made a great career in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham teams?

– Yes, he is a real leader, but he is very humble, even though he has played so many games in the Premier League and a big team like Celtic. He is a humble person, he will never yell at you.

– He did not get into the national team for the last matches – with Tanzania and Azerbaijan. What is the reason?

– Basically, I was called. However, I spoke with Ilian Iliev that it would be better to skip this camp. Since it’s very cold early in the MLS season in Canada, we only had away games and were constantly on planes and traveling. It would take me a lot and another 8 and a half hours one way to get to the nationals camp. However, I have a great desire to play for Bulgaria and I hope that next time Ilian Iliev will call me again. I would be happy to come.

– Do you miss Bulgaria?

– At the moment I am alone in Canada, as my mother will come to me in June. But yes, I miss everything from Bulgaria. Plovdiv and Varna, mostly. My best years – from 16 to 23 years old – were spent in Bulgaria. I miss going out with a friend after training for a coffee, to talk, to have fun. However, if you know how my teammates in Montreal make fun of Bulgaria. They didn’t know anything about our country, but I show them the pictures of seas, mountains, restaurants, women… 5-6 people want to come on vacation to Bulgaria.