Stankovic: “AEK has the best fans”

Her goalkeeper AEK, Cican Stankovic, gave an interview to Sports Hour and referred to his team, his coach Argyri Gianniki, also referred to the exclusion of the Union from Velez.

The interview in detail:

Let’s go back to last May. After winning titles, participating in the Champions League, you decided to leave Salzburg. Was your circle closed or did you want to change environment?



“It was an important decision for me. I was already in Salzburg for six years, I won a lot, I played in Europe, but I felt that the time had come when I wanted to change something. The proposal from AEK was an excellent proposal. AEK is a very big club, life in Greece I knew was very different from that in Austria and therefore I decided ”

You said yes to AEK’s proposal in the first days of June. That is, very early in the transfer window. Why did you not expect time to pass and possibly better suggestions to come?



“It is true that AEK’s proposal was the first that came into my hands at that time. But the people of AEK showed from the first moment how much they wanted me. They did everything to convince me. They showed me the new stadium, they showed me the plan that existed and they convinced me that they want to win titles. “All this convinced me and I said ‘yes’ without having to wait for anything else.”

Now, six months later, looking back at last summer, do you think it was a right or a hasty decision?



“It was a surprise for everyone anyway, the fact that I decided to leave Salzburg. But I really wanted to change something in my life. “I wanted to show that I can play everywhere in any situation and succeed and I think I did what I had to do.”

First game with the AEK jersey, was the rematch with Velez, in which you caught two penalties and you could have been the hero of the night, but in the end came the exclusion. How was that debut?



“First of all, I was very happy to play my first game for AEK and in front of the world. You can not say much about the match. We wanted to move on and continue in Europe, but in the end we lost to a team that we should never have lost. “It was difficult that night, but we had to look ahead.”

How difficult was it for the team to overcome this early European exclusion?



“After that match, we had to spend a whole month doing only preparation and training, instead of playing games in Europe. And the climate was heavy. Everyone from the first day was angry and frustrated about the exclusion, especially from a team that should not have been excluded. No one was happy. But we worked to overcome it. And I think we did it. We left it behind and we have not talked about it again. ”

You entered the Greek championship. How different it is from that of Austria



“The championship is very different. The pressure here is very high. Every big team wants to win the championship. That is why there is a lot of pressure and tension in all matches. And Ilike it very much. I want to win titles, I really like this pressure. Every match is very different and very intense. The derbies have a terrific atmosphere and are impressive, with huge intensity and I like them very much. “I like to live in derbies in Greece.”

You are from the first day that the preparation of this year AEK started. What went wrong and the team found itself 11 points behind the top?



“The team brought 14 new players this summer. We changed coach in October. It is not easy to build a cohesive team overnight. Olympiacos, which is first, has had the same team for three years. And everyone knows what to do on the pitch. This takes time for us to be able to achieve it. We have to work hard, we have to win games and build a winning mentality. To believe that we can win every game. I think that as things stand, it is difficult to win the championship this year. But next year, with the work we will do, I am sure that we will be much more prepared “.

Do you think that there were matches in which AEK has so far easily thrown points. Like with OFI in Crete or with Apollo?



“With OFI we lost our concentration and conceded goals easily in the end. With Apollo we did not “kill” the game and we could not win. In the Greek championship you have to win all the matches to get the title. And of course when you can not do that, it will cost you ”

What do you think AEK should change in its game?



“He has to kill the toys. When he scores a goal, then he puts in second and third and locks in the wins. “All we have to do is become killers.”

What is it that Argyris Giannikis brought to the team?



“The new coach wants to implement a competitive model similar to the one we had in Salzburg. Fast football and with a lot of pressure. It all takes time and it can’t come out right away. That’s why this style of play takes work and time to have confidence in what you do on the pitch. ”

So the message you would send to the world of AEK?



“We work hard and believe in our work. We are second in the standings and we have already shown that we can do good things. We want to play another style of play. This requires patience, but we are already doing things. Everyone saw that against Olympiakos in the derby, we were good. We made mistakes and from these our own mistakes, we conceded goals, but we played well. “We could have won that game.”

You delayed the knee surgery as much as you could, in order to play in the derby with PAO and help, you asked to go to Tripoli just to be with your teammates. The bond with the team is already great, even though you are only six months old?



“It is impossible not to be tied up. I have seen how much people love this team. It’s unbelievable, this is my first time seeing this. We definitely have the best fans. And when you see that, when you see how much these people love the team, you have to give everything. You are obliged. “Inside the stadium and outside it.”

Which striker from the team makes it more difficult for you in training than anyone else? Do you όλους face them all?



“I will not choose, they are all very good players. But I can deal with them all. And win them over. “I also beat Haland when I was in Salzburg and we were teammates.”

Who is the most difficult striker you have ever faced?



“I have played against Lewandowski, with Salah, with Manet. It’s hard to say, who’s the hardest. “Certainly with all of them, if you make the slightest mistake, they will punish you.”

You said that in the summer they showed you the new stadium together with the transfer proposal. Looking forward to playing in Hagia Sophia?



“It’s one of the reasons I came to the new stadium. This moment is so historic, that AEK will return home after almost 20 years, that they are really grateful that I will be able to participate in all this. It is amazing”.

You have won leagues and cups with Salzburg, he has played in the Champions League groups. With AEK, what are your goals, your dreams?

For the national team

“This is a strange story. I lost my place three months before the Euro. I played in the qualifiers. I do not know why I lost my position. Maybe the coach does not like my personality, I do not know. However, I will continue to work hard on the field “.

When will you be ready to go back on the field and play?



“After Christmas I hope I will be ready to start full training. Therefore, even for the Lamia match, I believe that I will be able to be ready “.