Almeida: “If I didn’t think we could win the championship, I would have gone on vacation”

Statements to Cosmote TV ahead of AEK’s home match against Aris for the 13th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League, made by Matias Almedia.

The Argentinian coach referred to the pain caused by his side’s heavy defeat to Olympiakos and spoke of the need for an immediate recovery through unity, while making it clear that if he did not believe AEK could go on to win the title, he would have gone on holiday.

What the AEK coach said in detail:



On whether he analyzed with his partners what went wrong in the derby with Olympiakos: “Yes, the truth is that the analysis was done in the game. The pain caused by the defeat makes us rethink many things. It has happened that we have won, it has happened that we have lost as in the last case. But everyone thinks that this situation can be changed. I can’t go back in time to change what happened. What we can do is turn the situation around.

On a personal level, I believe in the project. On a personal level, I believe this team will be competitive and fight until the last second for the title. But in these situations, to start looking for excuses to justify a defeat is not my type. If you win, a positive atmosphere is created, when you lose, doubts are created. I, as a coach, try to stay out of all that and try to concentrate on everything that has to do with the future”.

On what he did on a football level: “The goals we conceded were from our mistakes. In a derby, when you go into a second half and in the first four to five minutes, you make some mistakes and those mistakes turn into goals, then mentally it affects any team. The pain created by defeats is great. But it is time to realize and understand that we have lost. With the desire, of course, to turn the situation around for us, for our world, for the club, for what we are working on”.

For there is determination in his footballers to turn the situation around: “We always talk. In derbies this is always the case, when you win you enjoy it and when you lose, a lot of things are created. We always do an analysis in the football and the psychological part, as far as the group is concerned. But it’s not just about this game. We do the same when we draw or when we win. But, yes, I understand that always the comments, when there is a defeat, are much more. Because it causes us all pain. But we have talked to each other, the owner has come and talked to us.

We talked to the players, which is what we usually do. We, as a technical staff, are only trying to keep the team together. Through our game, to be able to have the world with us, because their support is important. And this, obviously, is proven by actions. Deeds have shown that this team has always struggled throughout this time. That after defeats he has reacted. And we all want to win. And everyone, especially this coaching staff, wants to be here. He wants to be here”.

On the game against Aris and what his team needs to do to get the win: “What he did before the last derby. With its way of playing, the team has a leading role on the playing field. To show, in this case, a football bravery, after a defeat in a derby. And may it continue to grow, as it has in the two years and six months that we have been here. Take one more step. Here is a project that has been in the works for 2.5 years and what happened was successful. We have experienced good moments, normal moments and bad moments, as in the previous match. But we must not be swayed from our goal. To take us out of the goal is not to be united, while so far we have managed to be”.

On how he rates Mars: “We know Aris is playing well. He is a tough opponent. We come from a strong defeat. We will try to react, to reverse the previous situation. Let’s show ourselves worthy of expectations and continue to be contenders for the title. The league still has a long way to go, all teams must play against each other again. And another time we will all meet together is the Playoffs. What I want to say, I want to say that we are in the middle and I think this team can take the championship. I am convinced. If I didn’t believe it, I would have already gone on vacation. But I believe that we will fight for this championship, because I want to win the championship again with AEK. With all that entails”.