Almeida: “I’m not trying to steal a result”

From managing her roster AEK up to and about… cinema spoke at the press conference o Matias Almeida after thethe defeat by Olympiakos (2-1) but who brought his team to the final of the Novibet Greek Cup.

Matias Almeida spoke in detail:

-what movies do you watch: “I generally watch the same movies because I analyze them. One of my favorite movies is The Last Samurai.”

-whether he is the… Spielberg of football: “We don’t like to suffer so much but we had a great opponent against us. We made a big difference when we played at home. Today the team did not come to hide behind the result but came out to play. I feel happy that in my first year AEK is going to the final, which they had to go to for 3 years. Very happy for the team, the crowd and everyone.”

– the reason he didn’t put Jonson and Szymanski as starters: “Good question. For starters what I’m trying to do is be consistent. When I coach a group and that everyone has the same chances, I would like both Mandalos and Galanopoulos to be able to participate. The group of players were quite tired and I preferred to put those who were at 100%”.

-the reactions from the AEK bench: “I think that getting up and entering the pitch is wrong. The first way is for those who stand up to come off the bench, but have you only seen AEK stand up? Not long ago a president entered the playing field. We are trying to find justice. It’s not what should be done but when there are some people in the corner it happens. If there is a will, I am here to give more seriousness to the sport and I transferred the same to a factor of Olympiakos”.

– the next game against Olympiakos and how he will face it: “I think that in every game we try to play the same way. We have the same idea in general although we adjust the characteristics of our players. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not trying to steal a result. We came to win. The changes we made were to equalize or take the lead. At times we were in control of the game. Some. I’m not going to throw a ball in to say I’m in control. Eleven against eleven and whoever wins. Protests should be done the same way. May the one who operates in the best way win.”

– that AEK claims the double: “I feel happy. Happy for the road we’re on. A hard and forced road. What I have told the players from the beginning is that we will prepare for 2 competitions. The qualification makes us happy. We open the drawer and store it up to 1 week before the final. We have to prepare to play the same opponent again. The play-offs are tough and all teams can claim the title. We have the appetite and we do the work. Let’s gather strength and prepare for 2 weeks. Today makes me happy in my first year in Europe and I’m grateful for this group of players. Today we celebrate and tomorrow we change the chip.”

-how AEK handled the match: “I will agree with you that after the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half we played better and the 2nd half was better. We initially lacked mobility and were far from the opposition’s marking. We conceded the 2 goals because of something we had discussed. On the other hand, we also had clear opportunities to score goals. I as a player grew up in a big team as well. Big teams when they have a disadvantage, they attack like crazy. Because the people and the administration are waiting. The most normal way is that a big team like Olympiacos will not hide but will look for the goal. We lacked moving the ball more. In the 2nd part, things were better.”

-his reaction to Olympiakos’ goals and if he thought he could accept more: “For the first question, the first part, if I was feeling anxious or nervous and thinking that we could concede 2 more goals, I would convey a negativity. After 2-1 it was 2-2 in the phase where the goal didn’t count and we had opportunities. If so I would put Vida. I expected us to draw. I wouldn’t like to play now. We should get some rest. If you have just achieved something very important you always try to maintain a middle line. When we win and when things don’t go so well. When you are happy, composure is important. Being happy without having achieved something will be the biggest ‘poison’.”