Hatzidakis: “Family and the National Team – We don’t look beyond… Jordan”

After his good season at Kolossos, his presence in the February “windows” and his transfer to AEK, Manolis Hatzidakis earned a place in the National team for the World Cup. He is enjoying the experience and is looking forward to the event in Manila.

“It’s a terrible experience. From February when I was in the Men’s National Team for the first time and Nikos Zisis called me to tell me ‘you are in the team’, until my call in July, I am very happy that all this is happening. It’s a short time, but I’m still working and I want to help the team as much as I can. For every athlete it is a dream to be called up to the national team, I am very happy that the officials have seen my development, for me it is the highest honor and I will do everything to justify those who trusted me and to represent my country worthily“, says the former ace of Kolossos Rhodes and now of AEK.

As for how he himself feels as a member of the National team before a big tournament? “Anxiety is always there, wherever you play, whether it’s a simple game or the World Cup. But as the days go by I feel better and better in the team and I gain more confidence. We’ve all been working together for a month now, we’ve really become a family and we’re getting better and better with each other“, he replies.

Regarding whether there can be talk of a specific goal in Manila for the National team, he emphasizes: “This will show on the pitch, no words needed. All we think about is the match against Jordan and all we have to do is talk inside the stadium. The way the World Cup is, it doesn’t let you look away. We have three games ahead of us, three finals and the goal is to win at least two. Then we’ll see what comes».