Terzis: “We find things in front of us that did not happen in the summer”

“We find in front of us things that should have been done in the summer and were not done“… In this way, Tolis Terzis, and essentially laying the blame for what was not done in Aris’ summer training, tried to explain the great changes the team has in its appearances and its performance.

The coach of the yellows had a meeting with them journalists covering the team’s reporting, speaking to it on all issues. He mentioned the great importance of the match against Volos, the goal of reaching Europe, his collaboration with Thodoris Karypides and the possibility of his presence on the bench in the new season…

In detail what Terzis said in the discussion with the journalists covering the Aris report:

For the Volos game:

“We talked to the guys in the locker room. Of the six remaining games, it is the most important. Everyone needs to understand the criticality and what it means for our year. And since I’ve been here for a long time, we’ve talked about Volos. In previous years, we did not consider him to be our rival. But this year, as things turned out for us, but also for them, which is their best year, at the moment they are our rivals for the leading position in Europe. We said to be very focused and train well because basically this game if we manage to win it, we go to four points… We have had this conversation, all the guys have understood him and we are trying to prepare as best as possible for the game. The most important thing for the team to be ready is the mind. Because if we look at the two opponents, us and Volos, we are definitely a better team. The point is to prepare the minds of our players. To be focused and for everyone to know what they have to do, what we want as a team, but also what the opponent is doing.”

-For the transitions in the performance of Mars



“From the beginning it didn’t go well, since the summer. And along the way, problems arise that you encounter during the year. When you don’t go to run, but to freshen up for the start of the season, you’re only fresh for the first few games. But in the course of time this comes out. You try to improve some things, but you can’t get it to where it was at the beginning of the year. So there are times when the group goes and then goes off or is… off and then goes on. In the match against Panathinaikos, our second half was the worst of the season. In the first it went but in the second it went out. In the match against Olympiakos, in the first half it was off and in the second… it gave. We all want stability. There are some things that we find in front of us”.

-For the progress of the team and the comparison with the initial goals



“We discussed it with Mr. Palikoutsa and then with the children, before the play-offs started. I will tell you about these four matches we have played. With PAOK, the team was excellent in the first half and in the second we lose from two whistles that don’t… exist. This is my opinion. It is possible that PAOK made three changes in the half-time and entered stronger, but until the 65th minute when they gave the penalty, we did not concede a phase. They may have taken action, but they didn’t trouble us. That game, as a result, was fictitious. In the next match against Olympiakos, we had a bad first half and a good second half. With Panathinaikos, we couldn’t have played worse in the second half. In that game I might have been wrong too. Of course, Mateo’s injury at halftime ruined all our work. Maybe I should put a player in Mateo’s place and not change the formation. In the match against AEK, I think the team was very good throughout the game. After 80′ we conceded 2-1 in a phase where the marking of four players was wrong. And if you add to the equation some phases in which we have the right to protest, at 1-1… The team is trying despite its problems”.

-For the criticism in the match with AEK and the change He made to Iturbe



“At the beginning of the second half it is four phases that our opponent came out from the side of Iturbe and created an outnumber. Juan didn’t help. I don’t think he could last any longer. If from the 46th minute to the 56th minute he doesn’t defend against me, especially on such a difficult pitch, there is a problem. That was my reasoning at the time. I wanted defenses. You will tell me why you put Odubajo. If I had Mateo, I would put Mateo. There was also Lazarus, but I wanted defenses. We talked to Juan and he accepted. He also had a card, also very important.”

-For Gray



“Gray played for many years in the best league in the world. We acquired him with great expectations. We haven’t had that many years the president has been paying for and for. When we checked him out, we felt that he is the player we have been looking for for so many years. And a big contract came with many years. It started well. What complaint do I have? He doesn’t press, he doesn’t press, he doesn’t push himself. He can’t have done it two years ago in the best league in the world and not be able to do it in Greece.”

-For Darida



“Darida is better when we play 4-3-3. Basically his position, which he has played for so many years, is an inside midfielder from the right. He is better because he comes closer to the opposing area. For some reasons we played a different formation and put him next to Etembo. Thus, he was forced to do more defense and did not have the time to get to the attack. But it is also the conditions and the opponent. When we had Etembo, Rupp and Darida, there we were “locked” 100% both defensively and offensively. It goes without saying that they already taught him. In the match against PAOK, he was blocked more. They went at him purposefully, to distract him. And Panathinaikos the same. This is logical.”

-For his relations with the players



“Several things were heard which I don’t want to mention. Even that I am quarreling with Julian. If you ask me which player I am closest to, I will tell you Cuesta. Because we have been together on Mars for five years. I will tell you something else. If the team succeeds or fails who will be charged? I. If I will succeed, I will succeed because I did what I believe and not what others will tell me. That’s what I decided. Some things heard are funny. Nothing happened. It’s clearly how I saw it. Purely my decision. Let me remind you of something. Last year when I took over the team, when Akis left (s.s. Manzios), the main goalkeeper was Siabanis. Then I called them both and told them about the reasons why I finally brought Cuesta back. Now for this year, especially in the game against PAOK, Marios played because I knew that the opponent would press high and we could hit them from behind with Kamaras. And we wanted to play with the ball from the back. And Siabanis is very good with the ball at his feet. This is how I saw it, this is how I did it. And the responsibility is mine alone.”

-For the goal of Europe, the fact that he remains on the bench for a longer period compared to the previous terms and if this scares him:



“Nothing scares me. If he intimidated me, I wouldn’t accept the president’s offer. Of course I’m working on this thing. Let the team go to Europe.” There he was asked about his relationship with Theodoros Karipides, about the fact that he has been labeled as “Karipides’ man.

Let me answer first with a question. If he thought I couldn’t do something, would he put me in? No, he wouldn’t put me. He is not dumb to play his year. As for what you asked, I am neither indifferent nor bothered. I don’t even work. I work, I don’t do anything else. I don’t even care what they say.”

-For the possibility of his remaining on the bench



“I have a different relationship with the president. We are from the same city and have known each other for many years. I want to tell you honestly that we haven’t talked about anything yet. And to tell you the truth, right now I’m not interested in that kind of thing. What I want to do is to achieve our goal, that the whole year does not go astray, because I know that the president has made a great effort. That’s what I care about.”

-For the coaches he worked with at Aris:



“The one from whom I took a lot, in terms of his reasoning, was Paco Herrera. He was a lover of possession, all week he worked on games in small spaces so the team then did very well in possession. Because we did it every day in training. From Pako, I have kept this and the way he spoke to the team. He was always calm, never angry, but calmly tried to explain the mistakes.”

-For the need to strengthen the Greek element in the team



“The team must have Greek players, at least 7-8. Because they know the Greek reality and the specificity of specific games. It is not easy to find good level Greeks because most of them are in Europe or in the other teams with big contracts. But I agree, the Greek element is needed. As for the young players in the team, if you let them play now that the ball is on fire, it can also hurt them. If we manage in the last 2-3 games to secure Europe, they will play. Just in case, because I know these guys well, they are nobody. They work with the first team, participate regularly. Next season, having already had a year of training with the professionals, they will definitely be much better. Maybe some have to go on loan to play.”