Kourbelis: “It wasn’t humane with Olympiakos – We wanted to play, but the body wasn’t working”

He spoke for everyone and everything Dimitris Kourbelis!

His leader Panathinaikou found on his show Demi Nikolaidis on NOVA and talked about what happened this season, his team’s outstanding effort Ivan Jovanovich and what happened before the game against Olympiakos.

First, about this season he said: “In the summer we all felt that we should do something good this year. It was a really good year leading the race all season. There is bitterness and sadness that we didn’t finish first, but you don’t play alone. It was a competitive championship with four teams vying for it».

For the bad season of January: “We didn’t deserve all these losses. For example, with Ionikos we missed many chances, at home against OFI with half a chance we conceded a goal. In the first round, we may not have been so good in some games and we were passing the victory, while in that period the team did not deserve to go like this. It was like a boomerang».

Regarding the outcome of the championship, he specifically stated: “Panathinaikos and AEK were the best, we lost it for a few details, won it for a few details».

For the game he’d like to play again: “The match against Olympiakos at “Georgios Karaiskakis” in the playoffs. The team wasn’t ready, it wasn’t human, but, you can’t mess with Gods and demons. At least on Wednesday. No one would suffer anything if the match took place on Wednesday. It’s been a tough week for us. People may not know it, but most of us went untrained to play. We found out on Saturday afternoon. We were not the Panathinaikos we were used to. Title match and you didn’t see us in good shape. I say this for any team that was in this position, a team that has been struggling since the beginning should not be discounted.

To be honest, when we heard we were playing on Monday we said “let’s play”, but during the game you could tell it wasn’t going to work. You felt that you are not who you should be, because of what happened before. We wanted to play, but the body wasn’t working».

For the game with AEK in Leoforo: “In the first 20 minutes she was much better, then the match faded and both wanted to avoid defeat. AEK entered better, but you never play alone. We could have been better. It was a game that didn’t go our way».

For the game against PAOK and the draw: “We would take a big lead with the win. And so, with Olympiakos where we would have had a margin of two results, we had shown that we can easily keep the results we want. Olympiacos played for Olympiacos very closely. What we didn’t really like to do. There were games where we were able to open up opposing defenses».

For the match with Asteras Tripoli: “It was a big mistake, in these moments you have nothing else to do but talk. I realized it first and that’s why I came out and apologized».

For his contract: “Whatever it is will be learned quickly. It will not be serialized. We’ll find out soon enough».

On whether he thinks that Panathinaikos is a step ahead compared to last year: “The team had many years to make a championship. To go out to Europe where Panathinaikos is connected to it. We brought the people back to the stadium, to have the stress every Sunday, we definitely wanted the championship, but, we made strides».

To support the fans: “The people of Panathinaikos were always by our side, the people supported us even when the results were not what they should have been. It feels good when the fan understands your effort. We thank them all for the support».

Regarding the development of Ioannidis, he said: “It was no surprise in my eyes. I was definitely for the development that Ioannidis can have in these three years. Last season he started third behind Makeda and Carlitos. This year Sporar started as a starter, but we never said one started and the other didn’t. They both gave us things, they had their moments. I am happy for Fotis because he has the whole package to succeed»

At the beginning of the interview, Mr Dimitris KourbelisI referred to his early football years in Astera Tripoli and in the close friendship that binds him to him Tasso Bakasetawhere they were teammates in the Arcadia team.

“Bakaseta and I went to the team together, we were 16 years old at the time and from then until today we have a great relationship, we are brothers. We talk after his matches, mine. Especially this year when we were close to the championship and he wanted it, because we have a great relationship. At the end of the day, AEK won it and was just as happy. We talk a lot and when he is here in Athens we have good contact».

On the player he admired as a child: “I admired Ronaldinho. I was in love with him. As the years went by I liked Barcelona’s midfield trio of Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets».