Lucecu: “We will give it all – the world is proud of this group”

Statements at the press conference ahead of PAOK’s home match with Stewua (13/2, 22:00) For the Europa League playoffs phase, Rasvan Lutsescu.

The Romanian coach made it clear that his team would give it everything to take the first and important step towards qualifying for the “16” of the competition, explained the choices he made about drawing up the European list, while comparing the clashes with. Steaua, with the Greek league derby.

In detail what the PAOK coach said:

How he lived in the period of punishment and how he experienced the team from the hotel: “There is so much that we can say about it, but I prefer to devote myself to the game tomorrow and not open other issues. We have a very important match ahead of us. The president spoke a lot about it. At the moment I want to focus on the match and not deal with these issues again. “.

For the European List and Player Options: “For me it was the easiest thing to choose. It was self -evident based on the situation. I first wanted to add an striker after one left and the other was injured. My players are very important. It was unfair to leave Ali out of the list and I was likely to make some changes in winter.

He was Pelkas, who is Greek, has a personality, he is a very good player. A leader we need in the team. Added to the list without leaving someone else. And then, it was the issue of Meiet. I wanted him and I needed him a lot. Its features are completely different from all our other players in the center and it was good for us to add it to the list. It looks like some players are here for the list, they are very good. We have quality players and we can rely on them. Any other decision would be strange but it was very clear ».

For the importance of qualifying: “I have been coach for 20 years. I have lived through very beautiful but also difficult situations and have learned that “today is today” and “tomorrow is tomorrow”. We’re going to give it everything. I don’t see it as a special challenge. It is important for PAOK. It takes many steps forward, it has become a team known in Europe. He has played in the quarter -finals, has good performances on major stadiums in Europe. We see what has happened for the last six years, but we will not discuss them now. PAOK is a very powerful team that makes it very difficult for the Athens teams and so all these stories have been made lately. The world is proud of this group. We will give it all! We happen to play with Steaua now and that’s all. “.

For the previous match with Steaua, the defeats in Tuba and that PAOK is more stable away from its headquarters: “Steaua has played in the Europa League in the Champions League. It is a quality team and I have respect for this team. In that game – however – the result was unfair. We had many opportunities. This was the game I analyzed better than everything we have played. So is football though. When you have to win a game and miss opportunities, you did something wrong. I think our mistake was that we played difficult games, it was psychologically difficult, with Mars and Galatasaray. We should have won that game and we lost opportunities on an empty goal. We missed many opportunities and this is how the victory did not come, while Steaua played with deep balls and then in the second half was more difficult for them to do something. In essence, they only looked at the defense.

They certainly feel very nice in Steaua, have been doing well lately and maybe they think they will win tomorrow again. Everyone has to push themselves to find in them how you can win this psychology and confidence. In the end, it is also a matter of character. Now I’m talking about all teams ».

For the absences of Steaua and Alleus: “Steaua is a team generally very strong, with physical qualifications and good individual characteristics. They have power and it is definitely a great loss, but at this level, we cannot talk about a loss. And we have had problems this year. And we, we have Zivkovic for some time. The issue is not a player, it is the whole team and what the opponent will be at tomorrow at all levels. Psychologically, racing, what will he will have to fight for every ball, in every duel.

For me it matters. Playing good football, yes. The point is to play well and get your best on the court. I am not affected by the fact that we are playing again with the same opponent. There is a draw and you can’t do something about it. Everything is in PAOK’s hand. The point is in what situation you find the opponent, at a similar time. In European games, everything can happen. You may play with a big opponent, but find him at a bad time. I see a strong, balanced game. Both teams have the experience and want the qualification ».

“It will be a different game, that, for sure. It is different to play with AEK, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Mars. They are games that have to do with selfishness and fans. The prestige, the points, the championship plays a role. It is completely different. The game with Steaua is clear to me. We play against a team from Romania. For PAOK, it is another game in Europe, which has its own significance to move on to the next round, which has an economic motivation. We want to give joy to our world and move on to the next round. It will be the gift for myself, for my soul the victory, if it comes. There are regulations that we need to respect. The games we have already played in Europe give us experience, but the games in the league are not easy. It can be even more difficult, believe me ».

For the European battles he fought 20 years ago with Steaua, being a coach at Rapid: “We were unjustly excluded then. It’s been a long time since then, I have some memories of those matches, but it’s been many years since those matches ».

For the report in Romania on a proposal by Al Ain and Bekali’s statements that Steaua is better than PAOK: “I haven’t answer anything for these two questions, thanks”.