Lucescu: “To be focused from the first minute – Football brings surprises”

Tomorrow (07/11, 22:00) PAOK will play a very important match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

THE Razvan Lucescu spoke at the usual press conference ahead of the match and emphasized that his team must be focused from the first minute, while he also referred to Yannis Constantelia.

What game is he waiting for: “It is true that we are playing against a quality team. Football has a tendency to bring surprises though. He is in a tricky situation but this is a team with players who can cause problems. There are games where they didn’t expect us to get a result, but we did. We have to be focused from the first minute.”

On his return to the bench and his punishment: “It’s a little different. There are other feelings behind it, not nice, but this is not the time to talk about it. I have a lot to say for sure. This is not the time to talk about it, but the time will come when I will talk.”

On his thoughts on the starting line-up and his approach due to the problems with Constantelia and Tyson ahead of the derby with Olympiakos: “The game against Olympiakos is on Sunday, preceded by the one against United.” We have to go in and fight until the end to get a good result. We need all players in the group, to have more options. Tyson is fit to compete, so from the players we have we will cover whatever gaps we have. I’m sorry for Konstantelias who is not here with us, he has some issues at the moment, he was also in the hospital and it was difficult to train. He deserved to be on this field and in this match. It is a period that is not always very good, a little with an injury, then with a health issue that he had both now and before in the matches with the National Team”.

On the period he sees his team have done in relation to the first day of the season: “I can’t tell you exactly. We have talked about this question many times. It is normal that there are some differences compared to last year when we won the championship. Every passing day gives us something. It more or less gives us something. In the communication between us, at the level of mentality, at the level of understanding. Some players adapt faster, some slower. But if something characterizes us as a team both in matches and training, it is that we are a team that fights”.

On the differences between the preparation and the games inside and outside the borders: “Of course there are differences. When you come to play here in Manchester it makes sense that everyone is 200% focused. It’s easier to prepare for games like this against United. When you are ready and focused then you have a better chance of getting good results.”

For what he said about Constantelia that she went to the hospital: “Yes, he was in the hospital for two days.”