AEK: Disappointment and regrouping for a counterattack in 2024

2023 ended in the worst possible way for her AEK. In the space of eight days, he saw the dream of qualifying for Europe fade away and at the same time four points were thrown away in games that the “yellow and black” had in hand.

The highlight was the yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Panserraikoswhere “Union” took the lead twice, had a numerical advantage from the 64th minute, missed many chances to score several goals even in the 94th minute, it was equalized by the fatal error of Athanasiadis.

The players were inconsolable at the end of the match in Serres, as they experienced a bad deja vu within three days and from where they could close 2023 alone first, they are now -3 behind the pioneer PAOK and -2 behind the second Panathinaikos.

For the umpteenth time this year, “Union” hurt by individual mistakes, especially its goalkeepers. But the responsibility does not belong solely to Athanasiadis, since – also for the umpteenth time –AEK fails to clean up a match by wasting many chances and in the end he is punished.

It is characteristic that Matias Almeida’s team is first in the league in x-Goals and final attempts, but only fourth in goals with 27, 14 less than PAOK, 12 from Panathinaikos and 7 from Olympiacos. The same time, “Union” has now conceded 13 goals in 15 matcheswhile last year he finished the regular season with 14 goals against (in 26 games).

The Argentinian coach understands what his team is like overwhelmed physically and mentally and that’s why he said yesterday that the period of the break for the holidays might be beneficial. “Pelados” will give its players the opportunity for 5-6 days to clear their heads and then waits for them again in Spata for the counterattack that AEK will attempt in 2024as he did last year, reaching the double.

The consolation is that except maybe for him Araujo (for whom an update on his knee problem is awaited) there is optimism that from the very first game of the new year, on January 3 against Volos at the Opap Arena, all the remaining injured players will be available. Even Paolo Fernandez will gradually begin to enter training and it won’t be long before he gets his first minutes.

Of course, Almeida has to manage the absences of Mohammadi, Hadjisafi, Zini and maybe (because he is initially in the selection) Mukudi in the Asian and African Nations Cups respectively. Besides, yesterday Petros Mandalos completed three yellow cards in the championship and it is most likely that he will be declared to serve the penalty of one game against Volos, since the next three games are “fire”, with Olympiakos away, Panathinaikos home and Atromito away.