Statements at the press conference after AEK’s home victory over Volos for the 4th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League were made by Matias Almeidawho spoke about completing 100 games on the Union bench, spoke about Piero’s impressive debut, while praising Tsiloulis.
What the AEK coach said in detail:
For the victory over Volos and completing 100 games on the AEK bench: “I’m happy for the win and how the players performed. As for the second part, I am grateful for life. Things have happened to me that I never imagined. I left my home at the age of 15 with a dream. With the aim of changing the future of my whole family. I am 50 years old. It saddens me that my father is not here to live with me at times. The world of AEK is always in my heart and will be no matter what happens. You know I have a face. I always say that I am true to my feelings, but in life I have learned to be grateful. I come from a poor family and I thank God for every step I take forward”.
On the injuries that have plagued AEK players: “In football there are always injuries. We’ll look even further, maybe we didn’t do something right. We try to take care of the players from their diet, their weight, the kilometers they do every day, the intensity. We vary the training sessions with some players who have an issue with physical condition. But it’s football. I’ve played football and I haven’t played a game without being in pain. It’s part of that. We try to avoid it, but again, the players who come in are ready”.
On what he’s trying to change from last season: “It’s true that we always try to work in one way. We don’t do anything different. I won’t “sell” you that we’re doing something different. Two years since I’ve been here, I signed to make a competitive team. The team is competitive. There are matches where the team creates many chances and you have asked me if I am concerned that no goals are scored and I told you no.
If we look at each match individually – which I watch two or three times each – we’re looking to be protagonists with a certain style of play. There were phases when we conceded goals easily. We have conceded goals from… goal to goal! In this phase, for example, we cannot work on not conceding a goal from… an opposing goalkeeper. Our team is characterized as playing aggressive defense.
Through pressure we have managed to score some goals, but there is another reason why I am making a team with intensity and aggression: to play as far away from our own goal as possible. At some point the opponent will also arrive in our area and we must be ready to cope. At 70% we succeeded. There is also a percentage that we all make mistakes, including me of course. There are different styles in football. Some people like chocolate and others… Nutella. And in football some people like it with 10 players behind the ball.
Who can guarantee success? We train not to concede goals. We train that the team belongs to this club. We train to put our own players in the opposing goal. We work on finishes, crosses, one on one. Now who are they who determine in milliseconds the result? It’s the players. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The ones at risk are us coaches. And so it goes…”.
For Piero: “We hadn’t planned for him to come in from the beginning. It’s been a while. He has done a few training sessions with us and we have only given him 2-3 directions on where to move. These 2-3 instructions, his characteristics and the many things he has to give to the team, gave us a… breath. He gave us a chance when we wanted to look for our striker to bring the ball down. All his teammates and we, said to take advantage of his characteristics. Fortunately, things turned out the way we wanted. First game, to make a debut like that… I have no doubt he will be important. Good thing we brought him again. Today we would play without a striker! The time has come!”.
About the league so far and the “little ones” who look dangerous: “The championship started well. I believe that these teams that have smaller budgets try to play their game and make it difficult for the opponent. I don’t like to call them smaller groups. The important thing is to get ahead quickly otherwise the games get complicated. It’s like the example I gave before with chocolate and Nutella. You can put 10 players back. For Volos I saw a good team, with good players and we managed to overcome them. As many times as we have played against Volos, tonight was the best Volos team”.
On how satisfied he is with the roster: “I have many footballers. Too big a number for my liking. Not being able to qualify for Europe, as we want so much, created the problem of having a lot of players. I don’t like to single out football players. I do the same workout for everyone. It is difficult to have so many players because many are left out. In many games many are left out and having played football for many years I know that those who are left out feel better.
I have talked to each one individually about each situation and each possibility. They have to train like professionals and be ready when and if I tell them to play. Mitoglou, Callens and Piero were not to start. Their “complaint” should come from training. When the footballers come to my teams I talk a lot with them. I don’t promise them positions of principal.
I was impressed when I spoke with Tsiloulis. He told me that it was a lifelong dream to play in such a big team. Today he was on the mission just to be close to the rest of the footballers and to come to the hotel. Finally he sat on the bench and played. I am happy for his joy that he played.
It was the same thing I had said to Pelios. The same mood he had now in training, he must show the same in the… 100 game. I told you when I was 15 I left for my family. I don’t forget to look back and where it comes from. Then a player will do great things. The same thing happens in life. And you journalists, I imagine you were in high spirits when you started. I appreciate that human side. This humility. If I win in football it is of course better.
In all the clubs I have played they have been winners. I’m learning to win. I have coached four teams. With three I won things with one no. But some players won a lot in this too. Whenever I see a person enjoying those few minutes of participation and enjoying it, I’m happy for them. This does not mean that he will play in the next game. He should continue training. It’s something worthy, because this particular player never made a… face. For me they are role models”.
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.
