Sotiris Ninis missed a penalty in PAS Ioannina-Atromitos and the opportunity to grant victory to the Epirotes. As Thanasis Staikos clarified, the experienced midfielder did it after his own decision.
What he said in detail
For the match: “Today our team, mainly in the first half, but intermittently in the second half, played good and attacking football, we built play from our defense, moved the ball with combination play or changes of play. We created not enough opportunities, but enough conditions. Until 1-1 we controlled the game. After the equaliser, it was a game with many transitions and chances on both sides and anything could happen there. Based on appearance and chances if one team had to win it was PAS Ioannina. Congratulations to my footballers, we are on the right track, they are performing better, they are confident, they have a rhythm in the game, nevertheless the league will be demanding, we do not know what will happen in the next matches and we did not create distance from the teams in the tail, so difficult continuation and difficult work awaits us».
Why the fact that Ninis took the penalty: “It was my decision. First of all Eramouspe takes the penalties, but today he was not on the pitch, so we decide according to psychology. That’s how you can judge. Indeed, 2 of our players went to take over the execution, but I decided on Nini. He gave us phases and opportunities with some good inspirations, which we didn’t have before, he had a good mentality, he is a quality and experienced player, so we don’t need to say anything else. It was my decision. Penalties are scored or missed, that’s what happens and we move on».
On the image of the second half and if his team was scared because they have conceded goals in all the matches: “The word scared does not reflect our image and the children themselves. We didn’t go back, we just closed the spaces and tried to recover the ball to attack rationally, but it didn’t happen as many times in the second half as in the first. When you are in front of the score and you have conceded goals in all the matches there maybe the players have a bit of an instinct to go back, because they want to keep a clean sheet for once in defense. For me, however, we should not become obsessed with keeping zero. We didn’t change anything in the second half, just Atromitos pressed more, but for more than 15 minutes it didn’t happen. After the match he went where he was and we took the initiative of the movements again».
Regarding the fact that PAS does not finish the matches: “We really could have made it 2-0, it didn’t happen. Look, we are a team that tries to play football and that creates rhythm in matches and brings excitement. We will not sit and look because chances and goals are made in the last minutes, we want to have a good performance, rational development of the game, to improve in all areas and the main thing is to get points to build a greater distance from the relegation line».
For the debut of Bakadimas: “He had a good performance, he’s been working with us since September, he didn’t feature until now, but I was sure he would do it and you all saw it on the pitch. We have to keep today that the team is working with all its players and everyone brings out their value on the pitch. We didn’t do crazy things and change a lot (sb means changing players’ positions). We didn’t see anything different in the end because we had absences, after all I only care about attendances, not absences».
On whether he considers the result a lost opportunity: “There are also playoffs and playoffs, so you don’t feel safe unless you play in the playoffs. Today’s game was crucial, the 3 points would build distance, but we can’t stop here, there are 6 games left in the regular season. I will not designate specific grades as safe. Game by game we will see. In front of us we have the game against OFI, we have to get a point or points there as well».
For Gino who left injured: “He has a tightness in the gastrocnemius. We’ll see».
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
