Heavy atmosphere at AEK’s training sessions – Team delegation today at Michalis’ funeral

The fun and anticipation for her great challenge AEK to claim qualification for the Champions League groups seem to have been lost in recent days in the ranks of the team. The team organization is shocked from the murderous raid in New Philadelphia and above all the loss of a 29-year-old friend of the “Union”, Michalis Katsouri.

The “yellow and black” returned to training yesterday, with an eye on the first match against Dinamo Zagreb, scheduled for next Tuesday. But you did not see smiling faces around, as happens every day in Spata, since without exaggeration what has happened since Monday night has thrown heavy shadow over the group.

Matias Almeida is trying to keep the players’ minds focused on the first game, however difficult it may seem these days. Today there is a new training, while in the afternoon a delegation of the team will attend Michael’s funeral. Specifically, at 17:00 at the holy Church of St. Konstantinou in Elefsina is the last farewell and the members of the team have expressed their desire to attend, an example of the family atmosphere that exists in the club.

In the meantime, at AEK are now awaiting UEFA’s decisionswhich with yesterday’s announcement she finally “broke” her silence about what sadly happened. At the moment there appears to be no signs of a possible ban for Dinamo Zagreb and the first leg is approaching, with the ‘Union’ people also dealing with the details of the trip to Croatia wanting the highest security for the expedition.

At the same time UEFA forces AEK to play three qualifying matches in a few days, which is unprecedented. He will play on the 15th of August in Zagreb and on the 19th of the month at the Opap Arena against Dinamo, while if he qualifies he will play on the 22nd or 23rd of August in the playoffs of the Champions League with Antwerp and if he is eliminated on the 24th of the month in the playoffs of the Europa League. To this Golgotha, also add the second leg on August 29, 30 or 31, as well as the two league games he will play, on August 27 against Panserraikos and on September 2-3 in Volos.