Loutsescu: “AEK are favorites only on paper – Bad image for Greece to make the final like this”

Razvan Lucescu named AEK as the favorite on paper, but reminded that PAOK has experience in finals. The Romanian coach conveyed the desire of everyone in the team’s organization to win the Cup, while he expressed his confidence in Felix Brich. “What happened with the final gives a bad image of Greece to the outside,” he commented on the controversy with the venue and the conditions of the match.

In detail, Razvan Lucescu talked about:

-whether Oliveira will be available: “No, Nelson will not be available for tomorrow’s final.”

-the differentiation in terms of the most options it has: “Does not matter. We have played many times, we know how each other plays. It’s a final and what counts most is momentum. When you get there be mentally ready, focused and cool, ready to win.”

-his own motivation for the final: “A trophy is always something special. No matter what you have achieved, one more trophy is important. These are the only things that belong to us 100% in our lives. For me it’s like air.”

– the fact that PAOK have months to win in a derby: “I think that after our victory over Aris and after the break for the national teams we were not at the best level of confidence and with most of the players not at the best level for various reasons, either injuries or because some were thinking about their future. Also many of our players do not have the experience to handle the pressure of the championship. If we beat AEK in Toumba, we would be -2 from the top. These played a role in us not getting the results we wanted in the derbies. I have experience in football and a team with many young players has to grow and learn through situations like this. We performed very well when we didn’t have the pressure, but we also had our ups and downs. Mistakes were made, but these are all experiences. The results in the derby with AEK and Olympiacos created this problem for us. It was a powerful experience for all of us to see what we need to do to get better. That’s the story of the entire season, whether you like it or not. I am proud of the work of this team. They tried hard and even though we lost a lot of points in the playoffs, during the season we had a lot of good games and played good football.”

-if he considers that AEK has an advantage: “On paper, AEK are favorites for the final, but I don’t think that matters for those who work in football. It is a final, everyone is ready to give everything, they are motivated at the highest level and we will see how each team will manage the moments in the match, the pressure to win, the pressure from the opponent, how they will take advantage of the opportunities etc. We have shown in many games that we can do it. What we lacked was the consistency to do it every game.”

-whether the result of the final will affect the next season: “No, it has nothing to do with next season. Only in terms of Europe and how many laps you should have to go through. There will be disappointment if we don’t make it because it’s been a tough season, with big battles, won and lost. But when you know that you gave everything, you have the satisfaction that you fought with everything you could. I see the final and the Cup as something that allows us to close this season happy and proud.”

-whether it has reached the shape of the final: “Yes, I have come to a conclusion. I can’t say no, I’d be a liar. We have made our decisions.”

-whether he has spoken to the players: “There have been discussions that I have had with everyone, but also with each one individually. I try to be in the ideal mental state ahead of the final. Don’t expect me to tell you what we say in these meetings. Maybe tomorrow, after the final. However, one thing I told them, which is more tactical but also has to do with confidence, is that they have worked very hard all season. They know very well what they have to do, there are player-leaders who can make decisions in critical moments, we have organized, disciplined players and I don’t remember any moment in any game when an opponent played harder than us. They should get energy and self-confidence from this.”

– the definition of Felix Brich in the final: “It is an important aspect. I came here in no mood to talk about the great injustices we have experienced this year. But having a referee of this level and knowing that he will come to do his job as best as he can, keeps us focused on the game. If it’s a mistake, it will be a mistake and we won’t have second thoughts.”

– the conditions of the final: “All of us, not only in PAOK or other teams, are wondering what is going on. It is a very bad image for Greece as a country, not only for its football. The Cup is the most historic trophy, it’s something sacred and you can’t do things like that in the Cup. Or you can do it because of interests. Greek football is complicated, it could produce a lot more, but because of all these things it suffers.”

-what is the importance of the Cup for Europe: “The only motivation is to lift the Cup and be happy. These games are very special because they are final. Two teams, 50-50, one trophy. If you pick it up, you’re the happiest person in the world. This is the greatest motivation and gives the greatest joy. Everything else is for after the game.”