Poget: “I want to stay and be shown that they want me – I believe in qualification”

“I want to stay and I want them to show me that they want me but so far they haven’t shown me anything official”… Gustavo Poget gave an interview to the metrosport.gr website in which he mentioned, among other things, his stay on the bench of the National team and the effort to qualify for the final phase of Euro 2024.

The coach of our national team once again expressed his desire to stay on their bench, however he pointed out that he wants the EPO to show him that they want him, emphasizing at the same time that so far there has been nothing official. Regarding our national team’s attempt to qualify for the final phase of Euro 2024, Poget appeared optimistic.

In detail, what Gustavo Poget mentioned in an interview he gave to metrosport.gr



We caught up with him in what for many seems like a blank space, with him giving his own answer on how he’s spending his time as he waits to face Kazakhstan Kazakhstan in the Nations League playoffs, where he will be vying for a ticket to Euro 2024 ,



“This period, like the other empty periods between the national team’s obligations, contains enough analysis, I try but it is not possible to watch all the games played by our footballers, however I do not fail to see their best moments. I try to be discreet and not bother them, emphasizing mainly the mental part, that they are well, that we have a personal contact, that I know the things that concern them. There is also contact with the fitness coach, monitoring the situation of each player. We certainly analyze the players’ competitive data, despite this, Tsimika’s competitive behavior in Liverpool and the Premier League is different from what we or a football player in the Greek league want.”

And when there is no football in the middle?



“The first thing for me is family, then friends and then the club. Obviously I also try to look after myself, work out to be in good shape, read when possible while also trying to play golf at a club which I go to once a fortnight.”

We see that you are a coach who, as many times as necessary, the players of the national team raised a… “shield” in your face,



“I am a straightforward person, I like to have a human relationship with them, to know about their life, about their lifestyle, on the one hand there is the football part, while there is also the human side and it seems to work well the one with the players. But I want to say that it’s something I do spontaneously and not artificially, it’s normal for me.”

In the end, what suits coach Poget better, the club or the national team?



“In order to improve the way of playing and to acquire an identity, this is done in the team, this does not happen so easily in a national team where long periods of time pass for the players to find each other. National team suits me, however the way of working in the team is intense 24 hours a day where you look for a moment of relaxation, in National team it is the opposite. I am a professional and I don’t know what will happen after March, I am being called by teams and National Teams, but for me my goal is 2026 with the Greek National Team”.

Let’s go to the most difficult now coaches, you have pointed out many times that no official proposal has been made for your contract, has anything changed in this?



“I love my job, I want to stay and I want them to show me that they want me, but so far they haven’t shown me anything official. It’s not the first time this has happened, when I was a footballer playing in Zaragoza I had a contract for four years, the last year they didn’t renew my contract, I played normally in the last game, I gave my best and then they renewed it . As then, so now I will give my best until the last day.”

With or without you at Euro 2024, what do you foresee?



“I am focused on qualifying, I believe we will achieve it. There are many parameters, we are focused on that though.”

Have you ever felt that this might be your last 90 minutes on the national team bench?



“I want to tell you the truth, I haven’t felt it. I’m a person that if you say let’s go for a month, I’ll say let’s go and then we’ll discuss what we’re going to do from that point on.”

Moving on to the “football players” part, two guys who stand out both at the club level and in soccer Greece, are Kostantinos Koulierakis and Yiannis Konstantelias, how do you see them from the point of view of the Federal coach



“Konstantinos Koulierakis and Yiannis Constantelias are obviously the future of the National Team, two players at a young age who are competing and indeed very well with the representative group. The former is very necessary because I want to have all the perspectives and possibilities available in the group and a left-footed central defender is always an interesting case. He is a strong character, I remember Coulier against France with a great performance from the moment he came on when we were playing with 10 men.

As for Konstantelias, we know his skills and the quality he can offer by playing for the team at any time on the field. The more he plays for PAOK, the better. I think Lucescu is doing an impressive job with him, he is putting him in little by little, one to compete and one to rest him, which is important for the player as well.”

What do you think about the situation of Kostas Tsimikas? Will he be ready for the match against Kazakhstan?



“Tsimi is okay and we are counting on him. If we say there are 35 players, he has a better chance of being in the 23rd. I don’t panic, we are ready in any case where we need to find solutions. Let’s say many people ask me about Douvikas, here is Douvikas, he is a part and member of the National Team, but the way we play and the opponent plays a role. The same applies to Christos Joli, who is having an excellent year, he is having an impressive year in Germany, it does not mean that I do not call him, that he is not in my plans or that I do not see him, it has to do with the characteristics that we need. I can’t invite 40 footballers.”

Is there a return window for Kostas Fortounis?



“My relationship with Kostas is excellent, not many are so straight, this shows his way, his character, he shows very good elements and for me he is an excellent character. We haven’t spoken since then, I didn’t want to influence his opinion on his future in the National Team, I respect him completely.”

Is the “OPAP Arena” finally the headquarters that the National Team needed?



“It really is an impressive stadium and you can see it, but I wish the horseshoe that remains closed was open as well. We have made people come back to the side of the national team, to be next to the team. I remember when we played in the empty OAKA and now that we have a seat that I want to see full”.

Would you watch the national team away from Athens?



“Otherwise, I would like to see her in Thessaloniki or Crete. However, I would like to go to Thessaloniki once a year for a match”.

Another big wish of yours is the construction of a training center for the National team:



“For me as well as the way the team operates is something very important. For my part, I push as much as I can, ask questions and try for it. We must have it, but I know that logically when it is created I will not be here. I would like the players to have their home, their dressing room, to know the pitch.”

PAOK bets a lot on the part of the academies, while we see that Panathinaikos has brought back to Greece Tassos Bakaseta, as well as Dimitris Limnios, does this also help your project?



“Personally, I try to watch the big games, it’s not the same to watch PAOK-Olympiacos than PAOK against a lower level team, it’s not the same and it’s also the level we will meet, with all due respect. That is why, as I say, it is better for the teams to play in Europe where the players can be seen and compete at a higher level. I personally want to see, for example, Ioannidis, but I want to see him against Vida because he will have players of such a level against him”.

Would you like to change something in Greek football?



“Yes, I would like more Greek footballers to play, I am not one to go against the law and regulations, but with all due respect to the coaches and team owners I would like to see more Greeks in their elevens. I respect the work of the coaches, but if they were in my position, they would do the same. We see 22 players competing and only one being Greek. Look at Aris, Asteras Tripoli, with all due respect to Akis Manzios and he has these materials, but I would like there to be more Greek footballers. Also, something should be done with the second category and its development”.

Speaking of coaches, you have co-existed and are compatriots with Pablo Garcia, what is your opinion as a coach and also as a person?



“He’s actually very calm off the field, a family man, but when the ball starts rolling, ‘boom’.” I was impressed with the way he played, I saw the game against Olympiakos where he played for a long time with 10 men, I know the difficulties he faced and he has done an impressive job and why not jump to the top level?”

We see the matches for a long time in front of empty stands, having also experienced the experience abroad, what is your opinion on the part of violence?



“The stadium is a place where families should gather, sports fans and it should be full of people. Football does not deserve violence, I believe that the decision taken by the government was difficult but at the same time correct with the aim of stopping the violence. If it was possible in England, it is possible everywhere.”

Which foreign footballers who play in the top five teams of the league, would you like to be able to make “Greeks” to have them in the National Team?



“Foreign footballers who play in Greece and I would like to be in the National Team. One is Levi Garcia, a player who can hold the ball, run at the back of the defense, speed in 1 vs 1 and quality. The second one I will choose I think will surprise many in Greece, he is a player I know very well, Meite of PAOK with whom I worked in France and in Bordeaux and we “grew up” together. He is an excellent number six who can get close to the area and score. I would like to see him again, to have the opportunity to see him in PAOK’s training room, as well as to talk through messages”.