Almeida: “There is a terrible mood – All matches are finals”

The tone ahead of AEK’s top derby with Panathinaikos, on Wednesday (24/4, 20:30) at OPAP Arena, was set by Matias Almeida.

The Argentinian coach, in his statements ahead of the match, emphasized that in the “Union” there is terrible mood.

Regarding the important, based on the development, “double” (1-2, 21/4) on Marsnoted that it was one more character test. Don’t underline that all the games are finals and that all matches are now of great importance.

In detail, the statements of Matias Almeidas on Cosmote TV:

How is the team, in view of Panathinaikos, given that they played on Sunday night and had two training sessions ahead of them?

“For us, there is no such question. There is a terrible mood. A big game, a big opponent. Very good time to play football, to play in the playoffs».

What do you think of the way your team responded against Aris?

“It was another test of character because we had a good first half. We couldn’t take advantage of the phases we did to score. And the half ended and we were losing. But I think we knew how to manage the time in the second half calmly and patiently. And I appreciate that footballers give everything, everything they have».

Is the game against Panathinaikos “final”?



“Everything is “final”. Everything is “final”, all games, now, are of great importance. But I think it is good for the Greek league to reach the end and all the teams with a small point difference».

Some coaches in such important matches have the philosophy that “these matches are not played, they are won”. Some others, and you do this, ask their players to come out and have fun, enjoy it. Is that what you will ask them tomorrow?



“I’m not going to change the way I think about football. I always believe that in all jobs it is better to be calm, confident than to feel pressured. When one is sure of the work he is doing, then it remains a game of eleven against eleven. And I still haven’t seen, neither when I was playing football, nor now that I’m a coach, a team that doesn’t want to win. Panathinaikos has its own feeling, Olympiacos has its own, PAOK has its own and we have ours. Whoever does things best will win the championship».

Do the three games you have played this year against Panathinaikos play a role in the planning of tomorrow’s match?



“They are all different games even though almost the same players compete in all of them. In the previous match against this particular opponent, we played a very good game and in two minutes the whole story changed. So we can talk, we can plan, we can envision and in milliseconds both football and life can change for the worse or for the better».