Mavros: “I wish I could play in this stadium – AEK means I always go for the championship”

His feelings in view of her return AEK in New Philadelphia and the memories from the time when he grew up with the yellow and blacks were described through the “Hagia Sophia – Opap Arena” Thomas Mavros. In an interview with “Biceps”, the legend of the club reported how much he would like to play himself in such a stadium.

After explaining it push which has historically given to the “Union” its historical seat and revealed his favorite goals who has succeeded there, also referred to winner mentality who must always accompany the team (especially after returning to its “home”).

The interview of Mavros in detail

-First of all, tell us a few words about the invaluable objects that you handed over to the AEK History Museum …

“I did it with all my soul and I handed it over with joy because through AEK these were done. The silver shoe, the Mixed World and the Mixed Europe earlier. I considered it much better to have these things in the Museum of AEK and not in my house. This is how I felt and this is what I did, these are simple things. We owe a lot to this team. So whoever has some items that are worthwhile and can offer them for mother AEK, bring them. “It’s very nice for people to see different things of value in its Museum.”

-Did you come to the stadium from the moment the interior was completed?

“I came a year and a half ago, when the bulldozers were still inside and last time for an interview in the summer. There is no! I’m emotionally attached, of course, but I feel great joy, awe, emotion, and I wish I could play in this fantastic stadium, but something that does not happen. We will come to see our own children, our own players to win, to play well, to win titles and to fill us with pride “.

-In the old stadium you did a great job, you know the dynamics that it had and the help that the players got from the world. How much will this stadium help AEK?

“The help the team will receive at this stadium will be huge. If I talk about myself, when I was playing in the old stadium, the power that the AEK fans gave me during the game, is something that I can not describe in words. Many times, while my physical strength was declining, especially from 75 ‘and after we started and we were tired because there was no medical coverage, the love of the fans gave me strength and I am happy that I was able to make them proud when they left stadium, through their love of course. The contribution of the people is enormous. Although I looked cold, I was emotional and attached to the team and the world. I owe most of what I have done to the world “.

-How much did the AEK player receive from what was happening on the podium in New Philadelphia?

“I received a lot of help from the people from the podium. The love of the people also played a role in my movements, speed and explosion. You felt in your soul at that moment that he wants the victory or the goal from you. And that gave you something more. When I played in OAKA I saw the difference between Philadelphia and OAKA. Psychologically I did not have what caught me when we were playing in Philadelphia saying “wow wow, go out, play well to win”. OAKA was cutting it. It’s cold, big, you did not feel this warmth of this stadium here “.

-In the four pillars of the stadium there are four sacred monsters and your own photo there. How did you feel when you saw her?

“When I saw her, I felt great honor and emotion. In my soul, this move made by Dimitris Melissanidis fills me with joy that I also did something, I offered something to this great team, like the other children. I am moved and I thank God that what I did to my team AEK was recognized through this photo and I am also one of the holy monsters of AEK “.

-Which match do you single out and which goal do you consider to be the most special in New Philadelphia?

“We have KPR left, because it was an international game and we went to the semifinals, because I was also injured (laughs). Not only for AEK, but for Greece as a whole it was a great qualifier because we had lost 3-0 and it seemed almost unlikely that we would qualify. Now the goals, were the three goals I had scored with Olympiakos at 6-1 here in Philadelphia. It was also a goal with Egaleo that if I remember correctly the next day Faidonas Konstantoudakis in FOS had written that this goal would be envied by Pelé himself. I love all goals like my kids. Nothing is easy to score. I had made myself that way, neither to get excited when I came in contact to score the goal, nor to be afraid that I would miss the goal. “I had made up my mind that you are a professional goal scorer, you get paid for it, people can celebrate, but you do your job and look to put more with a lot of composure because that’s what you have to do.”

-How important is the intelligence and the ability of the scorer to be in the right place at the right time?

“The intelligence of the scorer is huge, especially in how you will be unmarked. I often made him indifferent in a phase that took place from the right and the defender thought that I was not interested. But out of the corner of my eye I saw the evolution of the phase and I knew – and that was the great qualification – where the ball would end up. I pretended to be out of the big area and went straight to the point where I expected my teammate to make the pass. I was there and then the issue was to be an executor. To score at once. You have no room to control, so you must be trained at the end. When the ball comes, be ready with the right, with the left, with the head, with the body, because I have scored a goal and with the body against Mars “.

– We have seen many great forwards miss huge opportunities. Do you remember any of your own?

“I remember one in one match AEK-Panathinaikos. A 0-0 and it was at the end of the game, in 85 ‘. I get a strong cross from the right and I am unmarked and I am in an empty goal because the goalkeeper had gone to the left corner. As I was about to put my foot just to send the ball into the net, the ball makes a hill and leaves me over the crossbar. The grass had not been cut and as the ball was coming with force, it gelled in the grass and I lost it, I fainted, I say this thing is not possible “.

-You were one of the few footballers of that time whose body had also worked …

“I had worked my body a lot at a time when wood was falling in football. The weights in football, without being selfish, are from me. In the 70 ‘no one did. They did not know. I was weak when I started. I had a technique, a talent, but I did not have the strength. So I started lifting weights. I went to Serres to play and there were then two center back beasts. They tell me, “as a child, the ball passes, you never”. Do not talk too much, I did not touch the ball. That’s where I thought. I will go there again, I will go elsewhere. Then all the center backs were like that. So I went to the Panionios gym, saw a gentleman who was lifting weights and asked him if he could help me. He tells me “I know you, you are Thomas, of course”. And so I started the weights because you can not get into the area if you are not strong. If the opponent is stronger than you and puts his hand on you, he will kick you out. And I realized it very early and I performed with a lot of fanaticism, reaching these levels. To have more salinity and explosion and power. I was thinking that if I and my opponent fell face down in the area with the goal empty and the ball in front, what would happen? Would I score the goal? If I was faster and stronger I would put it. Otherwise I would have lost it. “Based on this reasoning that I said” My Lady, do not miss any goal “, I gave them to the weights and I also built my body at that time when there was no such thing in contrast to today”.

-Is your change at AEK your worst moment at Alefantos?

“My worst moment is when the divorce with AEK came. Now if that’s the case, put that in as well. I did not expect it because I thought I could help the team. Not graciously to stay. I had said that then to the then president Zafeiropoulos who told me that we will not continue our cooperation because you are no longer the sacred monster “.

-What does AEK mean and how important is the formation of the winner’s mentality in the team?

“When we started the preparation, I told the other players that we are going for a championship no matter who we are, whoever we are. AEK means I go for a championship. What will happen, time will tell. “First of all”, I told them, “you all have to believe this and secondly that we are the best team”. I have said that selfishness is bad off the field, but without selfishness on the field you do not move forward. “We, whoever we are, feel better than others. Both you and I are better than our opponents. “If we believe them, we will win even if we are not good”, I told them. And there were a lot of games we were not better at and we got them. I used to pick them up many times on Saturday in my room. Young children who were both from the countryside and the animators. We went out on the field with faith. “If you do not have faith, you can not proceed with anything.”