Bratsos on bwinSPORT FM: “The change of approach of Volos is necessary – the matches with Aris are decisive”

The strength of the opponents in the playoffs is what forced him Bullet to change his competitive orientation, as emphasized by Kostas Bratsos to News Bulletin 247.

The 45-year-old coach, at the same time, emphasized that his team’s two matches against Aris will be decisive in the battle for fifth place in the Conference League.

In detail, Kostas Bratsos spoke to Michalis Tsochos:

– the change of competitive approach from Volos in the playoffs: “We are an underdog team and we should change our playing approach in these games. I want my team to know how to respond when they have the ball and when they don’t. We knew that in the playoffs we will not have the ball and the question for us is to have good cohesion in defense and how we will attack. What I am not satisfied with so far is our counter attacks. My wish is for the team to press high and play quite aggressively. We did it especially in the first round, in some cases even against stronger opponents. Our opponents saw this, read it and we paid for it in several games afterwards. In coaching you have to adapt to situations and so in the playoffs you cannot do the same against teams like Panathinaikos, AEK, Olympiacos and PAOK. The point is to be able to look your big rivals in the eye.”

-how Volos played at home against Olympiakos and AEK: “In the possession game of Olympiakos, we responded very well, but we conceded goals from static phases, because Fortounis sends the ball by remote control. Against AEK, the fact that the opponent made a change in the delays shows something”.

-the battle for fifth place with Mars: “I believe that this battle will go to the end. Aris has the advantage for many reasons, both in terms of standings and in terms of roster and history. However, one point is nothing and since we are leaning on the dream of European exit, we will chase it until it doesn’t work. These games are now like knockouts, without tomorrow, that’s why the players give their hearts in every match”.

-how Volos will manage a possible exit to Europe: “The only thing that is certain is that we will have to start our preparation earlier. For everything else you will have to ask the president. We are ready, from then on we need the right potential to respond”.

– whether the fifth place will be decided in the matches of Volos with Aris: “It will be 80% decided between the games between us, but both teams are capable of big wins, as they have shown in the regular season.”

– the Panathinaikos-Olympiakos derby: “A draw does no one any good, it’s disastrous, it will be like a loss for both teams. Whoever wins will get an advantage. In these matches, you either win or… nothing. Olympiacos has an additional obligation because they are at -3, but even Panathinaikos, as the standings are, is not satisfied with a draw.”

– the characteristics of the contenders for the title: “Panathinaikos attacks more conservatively, tries to hit mainly from the axis with combination play. AEK takes more advantage of the lateral spaces and spreads out its lines. Both teams are very strong in pressing. Olympiacos plays, like AEK, with less security at the back, they press high and if they gain balance in defense, they technically have players who can kill any team.”