18:45  ,  March 30, 2015

Bernard Challandes resigns as Armenia national squad coach

Armenian national team head coach Bernard Challandes, who has just arrived in Armenia with the chartered flight, has resigned as Armenian national team head coach. President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Ruben Hayrapetyan accepted Challandes’s resignation, FFA website reported.

Bernard Challandes thanked FFA, coaching staff and Armenian national team fans in the interview with the FFA official site.

“I came to Armenia almost one year ago and my goal was to advance to Euro-2016 final round with the team. It was a big challenge for me. It was clearly mentioned in the contract, that we have to get points for the qualification, otherwise I will quit. That`s why everything is clear for me now.

Of course, 1 point after 4 games is not enough, even if we consider all the problems during our matches, I mean the injuries of Mkhitaryan and Arzumanyan during the match with Denmark, the missed penalty of Marcos against Serbia, Hambardzumyan`s red card against Albania. If the game is only 70 minutes, we`ll already have 10 points, which means that our tactics and strategy was not so bad. Anyway, I don`t search for excuses.

We didn`t make it. We didn`t reach the result we want with the national team, but we realized a good programme with young players, forming Armenian U-14 and U-15 teams. Perhaps, these players will play for Armenian national team a few years later. Nevertheless, I understand that my main job was good results of Armenian national team.

Of course I am disappointed with the results, but not with the FFA, the president, or anybody else. On the contrary, I am grateful to the FFA president for this chance, to all the FFa staff, coaching and medical staff, kit managers, all the people whom I worked with during this months. Thanks to all our fans, who were with us home and away. Of course, I am sad to live this wonderful country, because working here was really a great pleasure for me. I wish Armenian national team good luck. I see the potential, that we have.

I will always follow Armenian national team. I hope , that one day you will play in European Championship or World Cup”.

Follow NEWS.am SPORT on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram


  • Related News