THE Christos Mandas it was late but he made a dream debut with Lazioin 1-0 win over Roma in the great Roman derby for its quarter-finals Italian Cup. The 22-year-old goalkeeper spoke to News Bulletin 247 about how he experienced this great moment, as well as what preceded and followed it.
In detail, Christos Mandas spoke to Michalis Tsohos about:
-his Lazio debut in a derby against Roma: “”It’s okay to wait. When it comes to a game like this, you can expect even more. I didn’t know I was going to play, but my coaches were happy with me and told me to wait for my chance.”
-how he found out he was going to compete: “Provendel wasn’t feeling well so I took my chance. I found out when we were in the training center and we had the meeting, about two hours before the game. The coach announced it along with the entire eleven. A little earlier my teammates had caught me and were telling me ‘your time has come’. I didn’t understand, I thought they were making fun of me at first, because the game was very important, but it turned out that they knew something”.
-how he reacted when he found out how he was going to play: “I wasn’t too surprised because I prepare myself to play in any game. All I thought was ‘let’s do it’. That’s all I had in mind. I wanted the stress to be creative. Because it was my first game, for me it didn’t make much difference, whether it was a big derby like this, or with the bottom of the standings. I was lucky to have my teammates by my side. They gave me so much positive energy and helped me de-stress. Everything went well”.
-how he lived the derby: “It was very important for me my first game, even if it wasn’t against Roma it would have been important. With so many people it was difficult to concentrate, while the game was a knockout. I didn’t have much work in terms of saves, but I had work with the ball at my feet. Where I needed it once in the late game it went really well for me, with a double save. I was focused, I didn’t want to take any chances and I’m lucky that things went well.”
-what coaches and teammates said: “When the match ended I knelt in front of the goal and everyone came over me. They picked me up, hugged me, kissed me… Everyone picked me up and took me to the fans, standing up normally. It was like a recognition, a welcome. It was a very nice day, everyone put their trust in me and were happy that I did well. The goalkeeper coach was very emotional, he told me that he cried in the dressing room and I saw him too. From the day I came to Lazio it was his choice to stay. Mr. Sarri gave me a big hug and said ‘congratulations’. Simple words, but the body language said a lot more. It’s awesome that I live with him as a coach.”
-if he had someone of his own in the stands: “She was my girlfriend. She didn’t stop crying either. He has been by my side all these years. Unfortunately my parents weren’t here, because they had booked a ticket to come a few days later, to Sunday’s game against Lecce. They were very happy for me. It was like being here with their energy.”
-how he experiences his presence in Lazio: “For me it is unprecedented how high the level is. We also had the Champions League matches where we continue. I see football up close as I dreamed of it as a child. I’m living my dream”.
– the difference in the level of Greek and Italian football: “Definitely in terms of professionalism, I feel the difference, while I was impressed by the difference in the speed of the ball and the speed of thought. It was hard for me to understand at first, but I adapted quickly. Now I’m at a level I can handle.”
-the degree of difficulty in the workouts: “We are working a lot in the tactical part, like all the teams in Italy. I like it a lot, because in my position it helps a lot to read the game. Everyone knows on the field what they have to do.”
– the Italian language: “I quickly learned the football terminology when I came, but lately my teacher in Italy has had a health problem. I start next week with a new teacher. Italian is a nice language, I’m learning it, I’m trying. I went to the group and told them that I want to learn the language. The group put me in touch with a Greek who has taught many Greeks Italian. He had done it to Karnezis, for example.”
-the relationship with the Lazio crowd after qualifying: “I’m not saying this with any arrogance, but after a game like that, especially if you’ve won, whoever it was would have him as a God. Now suddenly everything changed for me after the win against Roma. I see it on the street. My teammates also told me that the fans will remember it for ten years. The luck I have is that I realized the next day how important the game is. If I had realized that on the same day, maybe the stress wouldn’t have been so creative.”
-how he sees the next day and the effort to establish: “For me the Roma game ended that same night. The next day has already begun. I can’t stay in the game I fought because it won’t help me move on. For me, training is every day an opportunity to become a starter. I show there what I can do. In front of me is an excellent goalkeeper, Provendel, who is one of the best in Europe. He’s awesome under the fire and an awesome kid. He texted me after the match and was happy for me, he told me that he has complete confidence in me. I keep hoping for my dream, that I can make it, no matter how hard it is.”
-the possibility of being called up to the Men’s National Team: “I wish I could make it. It is a dream for every football player. To play in the National team is unique, let alone to be in a major competition. I believe that if I continue like this I can succeed”.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
