Stoilov won't regret losing Twumasi after Champions League heroics

FK Astana coach Stanimir Stoilov has revealed he would not regret if the club decides to sell Ghanaian striker Patrick Twumasi following his splendid performance in the Uefa Champions League.

The 23-year-old put up a spirited performance against Celtic in the second leg of the playoffs and although his side bowed out 4-8 on aggregate, he scored twice to give them a 4-3 home win to end the Scottish giants' 26 away games unbeaten run in all competitions since September 2016.

"I've lost so many players that I do not need to regret it. If the club finds it necessary to sell Patrick Twumasi, then we will take this decision," Stoilov told his club's website.

"But, personally, I do not think that any of our players will leave now. Now we need to concentrate on the next matches in the Kazakhstan Premier League and wait for the results of the draw of the Europa League.

"The victory over Celtic is already a huge achievement for us. I hope that my players understand that we will be expected to win. All the teams in the European League are strong, so it's not so important who gets into our ways again. These will be difficult games for us, and we must be ready," he said.

He added: "My players showed football, which should be satisfied with the fans. If the score was 4-1, we would have scored again, then there would be a chance. I'm glad that we won and happy for Twumasi after the two goals."

Twumasi has taken his season's tally to 11 goals in all competitions and, he is likely to be given a call-up by Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Congo next month.