Cherin: “More mature and more ready for the title”

THE Adam Cherin spoke in the match program of the match between Panathinaikos and Lamia about his goals with the “greens”, his presence in the team, the course of the “clover” this year and the upcoming Euro where he will compete with Slovenian national.

In detail what he said:

The team was in a difficult position and under pressure after the home defeat by PAOK. However, a very dynamic response followed with two great victories over AEK and Aris. How did this reaction come about?

“Certainly the situation was not good before the game with AEK as the defeat by PAOK preceded it. We knew we had to beat AEK at all costs, otherwise we would lose contact with the top. But we had an amazing reaction in the two games that followed against two great opponents. AEK is a team that has caused us problems in the last two years, while Aris is also very strong in Thessaloniki. But we performed well and showed character. It’s not easy to play under that kind of pressure. However, we succeeded and now we must continue on the same path”.

What was the lesson from the last two victories?

“I think these two wins showed everyone the character but also the quality of the team. When the going gets tough, we stand by each other, focus on the goal and don’t fail. We have confidence in our abilities, but it is important to stay focused until the end because there will be obstacles and difficulties.”

Big wins in big matches but also big mistakes in theoretically easier games. Did you do yourself a disservice by dropping points towards the end of the regular season?

“I think that during a season it is normal to have some negative results. More generally in football, it is not unusual for big teams to sometimes struggle and lose points against theoretically weaker opponents. But it certainly shouldn’t have happened to us to such an intense degree during that time when we had the draws with Lamia, Kifisia and OFI. But now, with the big wins we’ve had, things are coming back into place. Now we have to continue like in the last games, and if we do, in the end we can reach our big goal”.

Panathinaikos has two consecutive games against Lamia, a team that hurt you at Leoforo. How should you manage these two matches?

“We certainly learned our lesson! So it is important not to repeat the same mistake and not lose points again. We have to prepare for the match against Lamia as we do against AEK, Olympiakos, PAOK and Aris. Like it’s a derby. I believe that if we face the game in this way, especially at home, with the support of our fans, we will get the job done.”

The two consecutive wins give confidence to the team, which now has the prospect of a good winning streak. And the truth is that the series victories were missing in the previous period…

“Looking back at last season, when we went on a ten-game winning streak, I realize that was an incredible achievement. It is not easy to win consecutive games in this league, especially when you have to give a derby every three or four matches. But we certainly have a good chance in front of us to build a winning streak that will give us more confidence heading towards the final of the play offs”.

The play offs have taught us that every mistake or every missed opportunity can be costly. There is no time to make up any lost ground. You experienced it last season, where in the last three crucial matches against AEK, PAOK and Olympiacos, the team could not win and as a result the title was lost. This whole process, as painful as it was, has helped the team to mature and appear more ready in this year’s “battle” for the title?

“At the end of the day you have to win derbies and most matches to be crowned champion. Looking back at last season, we didn’t play badly in the play offs. But AEK was almost infallible in the final stretch. So it is crucial not to make mistakes in this phase because the other teams are also concentrated and have the same goal. The truth is that last season it hurt us quite a bit the way we lost the league because we were on top almost the whole time. But we lost it in the end, and that was more annoying. I think the team, also because of last year’s loss, is more mature, more experienced and more focused. What has been happening in recent years is a new situation for Panathinaikos as the team is once again fighting for the title. In previous years the situation was not so good for the team but now we are where the club should be. And I think it’s nice for the players as well to feel that championship pressure. Everything that happened last season helps us this year. We are more ready…”.

This year’s claim to the title is even more difficult but also exciting. At this time last year, PAOK and Olympiacos were out of the title, while this year there are four contenders. How do you experience this “battle”?

“Last season we can say that at such a time we had “exterminated” PAOK and Olympiacos from claiming the championship. But this year everything is different. Everyone can win the title and everyone will give everything to achieve it. It’s a difficult situation for everyone but it’s also a nice situation because the quality of the league and the quality of the teams is rising. It’s a big fight for the title and the interest of the fans is huge.”

Panathinaikos is in contention for two titles. You know the team, you know the opponents. Are the objectives achievable?

“Sure we can! Most of the work has been done in the Cup, since we are already in the final and have one step left. Right now we are focused on the league. I think we can do it. We are a good team and we are more experienced than last year.”

How is working with Fatih Terim?

“First of all, he is an excellent person. As for his coaching ability I don’t need to talk. One only has to look at his career and it is clear. He is a big name in European football and we are delighted that he is here with us. We fight together to achieve our big goal for our team. We are doing a good job and I hope we can continue in the same way so that we can all celebrate together at the end…”.

You are in your second season at Panathinaikos. How do you feel about the team?

“To be honest I feel like I’ve been in the team for five years and not two years. And that’s because I really like it here, I enjoy it. All the people of the club from the first day accepted me and embraced me. And when you have good relations with most people in a group, you feel even better. You enjoy every day: coming to the training center, training, looking forward to the games. It’s another amazing season for me. And I hope this second year ends with titles.”

Did you find what you were looking for by coming to Panathinaikos?

“Undoubtedly! Panathinaikos was and is an excellent choice for my career. I am proud to play for such a big club and to have an important role in the team. It is not easy for a player of my age to play in most games at such a club. I am proud of the position I have in Panathinaikos and in the National team. I’m still young, I have room for improvement and I’m able to get better.”

With the Euros coming up, you have another big challenge ahead of you in the summer. How do you feel ahead of the European?

“It is something special because it is the first success of Slovenia after 2010 and the presence in the World Cup. We can say that we woke up the nation again because in previous years football was low in the ranking and also in popularity. We have an amazing basketball team, we have good cyclists, a good team in handball and volleyball, but football was further behind. But now we have once again excited the world. The Euro is coming up and I think it will be a wonderful experience…”.