Lucescu: “A team supported by the Minister of Sports tried to block the final”

About the final of the Novibet Hellenic Cup, Mr Razvan Lucescudescribing what comic tragedies happened until AEK and PAOK entered the empty Panthessalikos pitch. With his new statements, this time to “orangesport”, the Romanian coach referred to what happened before the match, how difficult it was to lose the trophy, but also the targets of the new season with the “doubleheader of the North”.

However, he also touched on something behind the scenes, regarding a team that tried to block the final: “There were some tussles behind the scenes. On the one hand there was a group that tried to block the final, with the intention of attacking the federation and overthrowing its leadership. Team, supported by the Minister of Sports».

What Lucescu said in detail: “There can be no derby with the fans of the other team. For example, when Panathinaikos-PAOK is playing, our fans are not allowed to go there. To avoid incidents. There is danger in every race. It seems to me that in the last six years, four finals have been played without spectators, one or two because of Covid and the others because these safety measures were taken. See what happened now with this final. The final of a Cup is a celebration of football and of the respective country. The Cup is the oldest competition in football history. This should represent the image of a country.

There were some tussles behind the scenes. On the one hand there was a group that tried to block the final, with the aim of attacking the federation and overthrowing its leadership. Team, supported by the Minister of Sports. On the other side was the federation, which was trying to organize the final, either in Volos, or in Athens at the Olympic Stadium, in Crete. Everywhere, but rejected, on the grounds that it existed very high risk of collision and no one took responsibility. That’s why the idea of ​​playing the match abroad started. It was requested in Cyprus, England, even in Australia, it was requested in Romania, Albania. Finally, the mayor of Volos accepted that the final will take place in Volos, but without spectators».

He then referred to this season: “It was a difficult, strange, disappointing year. I am under the influence of the last result. I played in eleven finals between the Cup, the Champions League in Asia, the League Cup. I lost four, won seven, but this year was the most painful. I’ve lost and been robbed by referees at some point, but what happened this year really hurt me. It was a match we had to win and we didn’t because we didn’t have the courage to win. I can’t say it was bad luck, we missed seven or eight big chances. We conceded a stupid goal, but football, in the end, rewards those who are bold and have courage. We didn’t have the courage. It hurts when you could win a trophy and you don’t get it. Some traces remain in you. The days pass, the frustration will be less and less and we move on. We are waiting for a new season, in football, life moves fast and we have to think about how it will be from now on».