Almeida: “We know how to damage Olympiacos – Araujo is very important for us”

With a very important derby in “Karaiskakis”, the battle of the playoffs starts again after the Easter holidays. THE Olympic welcomes her AEK (23/4, 21:00), in a pivotal match for the development of the title battle.

It was described as such by Matias Almeidawho, speaking to the COSMOTE TV camera, said that the Union knows how to make things difficult for him Olympicwhile he also emphasized the great importance of Sergio Araujo’s absence.

In detail what Matias Almeida said to COSMOTE TV:

For the return to action after the break of the championship, due to Easter, and for the derby with Olympiakos: “We continued, we haven’t stopped. We’ve had very few days off and are very focused on what’s next. We have another very difficult game ahead of us. What we’re doing is working on things we want to improve and things we’re on track for.”

On whether one team can surprise the other, given that they have already met four times this year: “I think being able to surprise someone is complicated. Many times the defeats come from mistakes and the victories from the individual qualities of the players. On a personal level, I try not to lie to people. All I can assure is that the players will come out to play a ‘final’, as they have been doing to this day.”

On what AEK would like to improve on Sunday, compared to the previous matches against Olympiakos and if one of them is efficiency: “This is something primary in football. Being able to finish a phase in the best possible way automatically gives you the right to think that you are gaining an advantage over the opponent. That would be a point. And then there are some other points that, as I see football, should be corrected.

But I don’t dwell only on the last two results with Olympiakos. I am focused on running the team. And in the operation at some moments we may have made mistakes and at others we did very well. But we know that every game is different, we know the way the opponent can damage us. And we know how we, from our side, can damage the opponent.”

On how he perceives the matchday, given that there is also PAOK – Panathinaikos: “No, I don’t have the energy to think about what might happen in other games. I put the energy I have into AEK and what we can do.”

For the absence of Sergio Araujo: “Sergio is a very important footballer for us, for the group. I think we were lucky to have Stephen Zuber back to a good level. Amrabad has also returned to physical condition and to the competitive part.

There is Van Weert, who is back. I also have a young footballer who can be a surprise. The important thing is to see that every football player has an appetite. And these footballers will play, due to the absence of Sergio. Because we have to work as a team.”

On the extension of AEK’s cooperation with Damian Simanski: “We have a very good and daily communication with the administrators. We make decisions together. And I think that’s a big step for any team.

That is, being coordinated, being connected and having the same appetite. And the important thing is that the footballers want to stay. So, what we are achieving is what I have said in the past, that the player must have the feeling that he belongs to the team. I’m really happy for Damian.”