Palacios: “I want to reciprocate the love of the people, lucky that Panathinaikos chose me”

Sebastian Palacios for… everything! The Argentine ace of Panathinaikos spoke about the first months of his presence in the “clover”, on Sunday’s match against PAS Giannina (19/12, 19:30), while he stated that he is lucky to be in the “greens”.

Detailed what he said in the Match program of PAE Panathinaikos:

We have seen many times that it is not easy to adapt a Latin American player to Europe. And it is always a question of the adjustment time that a Latin American, who is crossing the Atlantic for the first time, will need. In your case, however, the presence of many Hispanics in the team probably made everything easier…

“Yes definitely! It helped me a lot and made it easier for me to adjust. It is true that moving from Latin America to Europe is never easy. It is a complicated situation because it is difficult to go to a new place where you do not know the language and with new people around you. However, I was lucky enough to have several Spanish-speaking players in the team. This fact helped me a lot to adapt, to get closer and to join the rest of the team “.

From Greek how are you? You learn;

“Yes, I have learned some words (laughs). But I also started English lessons. Because I like communication, I try to learn English so that I can communicate better. It is also important for the moments when I am with my family outside the team… ”

New environment, new teammates… What atmosphere did you encounter in the locker rooms of Panathinaikos?

“The atmosphere in the team is really good. Although in general, wherever I played, in all the teams, I had great relationships and I always got along well with my teammates. I also like as a person to be happy, smiling, laughing, enjoying and taking advantage of every moment with my teammates. Because they too are part of my family. “When you spend almost all day with them, it is important to have a good relationship and have a good time.”

Carlitos’s move to give you the penalty in the game with Ionikos, is indicative of the good atmosphere you mention…

“It was a very nice move on his part. I won that penalty, Carlitos had already scored three goals in the game, so I asked him to execute it. Of course, other players asked him the same, but he gave me the ball and the opportunity to score for the first time with Panathinaikos. I thank him very much for that and for the trust he showed me. It was important for me because for 20 games in Argentina I had not scored and I wanted a goal “.

And after the first came, the second came with Atromitos…

“Fortunately, that first goal came, and a second one followed with Atromitos. For that, I thank Carlitos for giving me the opportunity… “.

Your role on the pitch is a little different compared to how you played in Argentina. You press more area, something that makes you even more threatening. How do you feel;

“Yes, the truth is that in Argentina I played further back on the field and I did not step so much in the area. But I always tried and created opportunities for my teammates or scored goals. In general, every time I entered the opponent’s area they were in dangerous situations and in goal phases. It’s something I like. And now that I am in the opponent’s area more often and I have more opportunities, I try to score to help the team. I always try to help my team where I am asked “.

You have scored two goals, you are more and more in the phases, even if they do not always turn into goals, and you show that as time goes by you become quite threatening for the opposing defenses. Do you feel well? Do you think that you can offer more goals later?

“Now I press more on the opponent’s area and I am in the goal phase. I am aggressive, I like to chase and be in the phases, I want to shoot and score, so I will try my best to score as many goals as possible to offer to my teammates and the team. I could have scored in the game with AEK. I really wanted it, but unfortunately it happens in football. Other opportunities become goals, others do not. However, I consider it important to continue the effort and to be in the phases because that is how the goals that will help Panathinaikos to win will come. “The most important thing is to try on the pitch.”

This is something that the team brings out. The effort that is made is evident in the stadium. Even in the games in which Panathinaikos lost, his image was not for defeat and it was certainly not an image of a team that does not try. How do you explain the inefficiency in the matches with PAS Giannina, Aris, Asteras, AEK?

“Indeed, the team is trying very hard on the pitch. There has not been a game where we did not give it our all. And in all the matches we lost, everything was judged in detail. These details were not in our favor. Something we hope to change in the second round of the championship. They were small mistakes, small details that cost us and led to defeats. So we have to improve, reduce these mistakes and the best results will come. ”

From the day you came, do you see progress in the team?

“We are doing well. We gain confidence game by game and we feel better day by day. We feel it. We have improved a lot, we have more faith, we are united and I appreciate that if we continue like this, with daily work, the results will come and the victories will be more. “All footballers will try with all our might to lead Panathinaikos as high as possible”.

Seven new players were acquired in the summer and a new effort was generally started. Do you think that now the team has acquired chemistry?

“When you create a team with new faces, it makes sense that it takes time for them to get to know each other. It is a demanding process both on and off the field. However, I believe that the team quickly adapted to the new data and I think that with this basis we will do much better in the second half of the season “.

2021 is coming to an end with a demanding final and a home game against PAS Giannina. What is the situation of the team in view of the match?

“It will be a difficult match. Ioannina is making a very good progress and is a dangerous team. But we play at home, where we are very strong with the fans on our side. So I am optimistic about the match and I believe that we will win the three points to make our fans happy in the last match of the year for the championship “.

And then comes the Cup in a match “final” with Volos as it is judged the qualification and the stay of the team in the hunt for a title…

“It will not be easy to play with Volos. I expect a difficult match. The opponent may be in decline lately but that does not mean that he does not have a dangerous and tough team. But we really want to move on to the Cup and we will give everything to qualify for the next phase “.

What was it that brought you to Panathinaikos?

“I wanted to play away from Argentina and I wanted to come to Europe. So when my agent spoke to me about Panathinaikos, I felt that the proposal came at the right time. I was lucky enough to be chosen by Panathinaikos and that made me very happy. Really, when I got my hands on the proposal of Panathinaikos, I did not hesitate and did not think about it a second time. And I’m very happy that I made that decision. “Now, what I want to do is help Panathinaikos get where it deserves.”

Did the storm of messages you received from the Panathinaikos fans make your decision to come to Greece even easier?

“From the first moment, my phone kept ringing. I received countless messages. Nice messages! And I warmly thank our fans for the love they sent me. It was something unique! ”

Does this love you received increase the responsibility and pressure you feel to reciprocate on the field?

“It simply came to our notice then. But you always feel this responsibility towards the fans. For my part, I work every day, very hard, to give my best on the field and to make people feel confident in me. I want to return the love of the fans on the field and I do everything to achieve it “.

What opinion have you formed about the Greek championship?

“It is a good and strong championship, quite competitive. I like…”

Do you only watch football or do you watch other sports?

“I watch a lot of football. I like. Lately, however, not as much as before because I do not have time. “I also like volleyball and basketball, but with the time difference that exists with Argentina, it is not easy for me to watch.”

How is your life in Athens?

“It’s very beautiful and I feel good. When the proposal was made to me and I had to decide, I did not doubt for a moment. I was sure. And really, my family and I feel great about this choice. We are very happy. ”

There will be something you do not like…

“Athens is a very beautiful city but the traffic is definitely something I do not like. Obviously no one likes movement. “But because I have experienced it intensely in both Buenos Aires and Mexico City, I am used to it (laughs).”

How is your day off the field?

“With my family. We try, as much as time and obligations with the team allow us, to take walks, to know places. And we really like it and we have a good time. Now, of course, with a little cold, we stay home longer because of our little daughter… »

How is the life of a football player with a small child at home?

My daughter is two years old but she is full of energy and vitality. She likes to play all the time and the truth is that I enjoy those hours I am with her. I like it when I come home and he comes to hug me. It helps me forget what has happened outside. She gives me great joy and I try to take every opportunity to spend time with her. It calms me down unimaginably, which then helps me to bring out my best on the field.

It is obvious that family is everything to you…

“It simply came to our notice then. My family is everything to me. I do everything for her. They are always by my side, for better or for worse, and they always support me. That’s why when I return home, I try to leave everything outside, behind me… ”

What would you like to wish for the holidays?

“I wish the Panathinaikos fans and the whole world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Many wishes and blessings. May the new year be beautiful for all people. Happy New Year!”