Terim: “It was a good day for us, but I want to do even better”

Terim’s statements at the press conference in detail:



For his account of the past month, where Panathinaikos played continuously Wednesday-Sunday: “We played a lot of matches in about a month. Every Wednesday we had a game, but also a lot of injured people. In some matches we didn’t even have a striker to put on. The coach changed, I came. We had to adapt very quickly. To get to know the players, to pass our philosophy, to play matches and that was not easy. We had to do this very quickly. Sometimes our opponents didn’t have matches. I have to congratulate my players. I want to say thank you and well done to the sports department we had. This battle we are fighting, we must congratulate them. That’s why they deserved to give them two days off. I believe that after the victory against Olympiakos, they will have an even better time. Now we continue in the Cup and the league. It had a special meaning today, I met our fans for the first time. It was a very nice atmosphere. Of course, I had also met them at basketball, but today they came to the hotel and I saw them there again. That’s why winning today meant more to me. In those 30 days or so, no one had rested. Again and again I want to congratulate my players. The most important today were those”.

How optimistic he is that he now has a clear picture of his opponents after so many derbies: “We have serious opponents, they have good teams. Things will not be very easy. We aim to be able to play with everyone everywhere, with any team. We have a philosophy about the way we will play. Every day we try to add something more. Today we won but it was very important to win playing like this. 90 minutes of playing the game we want, fighting on the field. These are very important things. We always want to have control of the game in our hands throughout the match. I say slowly to adapt. But we didn’t have much time. Then we will do better and better to achieve what we want”.

On tonight’s victory of Panathinaikos and the belief that derbies are not played, but won: “Olympiacos is a team that has really good players. They are a good team and of course the fans always want us to win this derby, I understand how important it is. You win a derby, you get three points, yes. But the most important thing is that you win and play well. One day before the match, when we did our preparation, we also do a preparation for the injured. It’s not the easiest either. We have many wounded. What I am very happy about is that the fans came, they supported me, the team. I am very happy that we gave such joy to the fans. You’re right, you don’t play derbies, you win them. We played and won today”.

For Geremegev and the pleasant “headache” he creates with the return of the wounded: “Up and down he was ideal. In the Cup I could play him for a half, today he played more. Of course, this week we expect the players who are injured to return. Competition between players is positive. Something nice happened to us. Another thing I’m very happy about, the one who doesn’t play, always creates a pleasant atmosphere in the team. Me, the president, the fans, the players, we all have to be one piece, coordinate to bring the result we want. Being a team is very important to us. Let’s be united”.

If this is what Panathinaikos wants, as presented in tonight’s derby: “Today was a good day for us, but I want even better. It’s always there. I’m never satisfied, I always want the best. I always say thank god, where I have come, but I always want the best. People always want more. Now we won against Olympiakos, won’t we want to win in the other derby too? If we win the league, won’t we also want to go to Europe right? The demands never end. We always expect the best”.

On the return of the world to the stadiums and how he has imagined it: “We will be a very difficult place together with our fans, for the opponents over here. Can you imagine today what would happen? It would be very nice. And players sometimes need that. Of course, with people like us, we always have an advantage. We look forward to having our fans here at the stadium and playing together as soon as possible.”.