Zeterberg: “Fantastic Association Olympiacos, I was shocked with his friends-Ziovani on his best days …”

For the beautiful moments he lived in Olympic talked Zeterberg In an interview with Piraeus’s “Channel One”. The Swedish midfielder described Piraeus as a fantastic club, and remembered his first game in front of the “red -white” people, commenting “I was shocked …”. In addition, he stood by his teammates at Olympiacos who have been unforgettable.

Excerpt of what he said:

When you came to Olympiacos, it was a team full of great players and full of ambitions. What were your first impressions?

“The atmosphere, the fans … a lot of things. First of all, it was a very good team, with great players who had won many things. And the competition was very great because I came at the same time as Zeus. We came at the same time and became good friends because we are talking English. And with Christos Kontis with whom I became a very good friend. So it was very different from what I was used to in Anderlecht, because I was very young when I went to Anderlecht, so I knew everyone, I knew the way we were playing and at Olympiacos I knew no names, I didn’t know the club so well. Because the club, you know, is great, but you didn’t expect it to be so big before you are in it. There is so much more to play at Olympiacos, with the people around him. Because whatever you do, people always have a comment for you. They are really passionate. This was something I had to get used to. And I still remember the first game we played … in the Champions League against … I think he was against Lyon. It was the first game we played at the OAKA because all the other games were preparation, because the event started after the Champions League. So this was the first game and there was a full stage at the OAKA, I think there were 70,000 people. And the atmosphere when you go out on the pitch, I had never lived and shocked, I was sincerely shocked by it. And I say, what is that? You know, they were throwing papers everywhere, they were singing everywhere. And that was a nice experience”

So what do you remember? Do you remember a game or at some point when you really felt this excitement?

“Especially the first game with the Champions League, because that was unprecedented. And then you really realize one that it is a huge big club. The fans I have the quality we have in the team. And then you have a lot of games, because don’t forget that I had a very difficult start … In the first one and a half years at Olympiacos to adjust, you know, to play. And then I was lucky when … when Protasov came to the club that gave me confidence. And then, when Protosov came and gave me confidence and I could show the world a bit how I can play. And then I gained confidence and I was really happy for the last 18 months of my career in the team. I found myself in the late 18 -month -olds and I think this is the way people remember me. They don’t remember me for the first 18 months because then I was playing bad and I was not very good for the last 18 months, since then the fans remember me. This is true”

You also experienced the intensity of the derby with Panathinaikos and AEK … What do you remember from them?

“Yes, Panathinaikos was definitely the big, big game every year for the fans. But the hardest game was really with AEK. These were the big games, with many goals, open games, good atmosphere, so nice games. We often don’t have such a derby, you know. And then you really see how much people like each other when you play these games”

Three years at Olympiacos and you have won three championships.

“Yes”

What do these successes mean?

“It means a lot of these three years, we won three championships and two cups. So I won five titles when I was at Olympiacos in three years. This is not very bad. But maybe you don’t have to forget why I think it’s one of the best quality periods in terms of team we had. We had a very good team. And that was Kokkalis’ season, big players, good players, quality”

Which of the teammates in the Olympic team impressed you the most?

“There were too many players who impressed me. I have to say Djordjevic, that was the leader at that time, a fantastic player. But if I mention Djordjevic, I have to say Giovanni, because Giovanni on his best days was a fantastic footballer. Then I have to mention Zeus Elias because Zeus in his best times was a fantastic footballer. And Karabe at his best, fantastic Alexander, who scored everywhere by Giannakopoulos. So, we had so many good players. I too, and I will still forget players because we had so much quality in the team”

Are you still talking to them? With some of them?

“I’m still talking to some. With Karebe. I still talk to Kontis sometimes, with Zeus Elias, with Giannakopoulos I send some messages and with others sometimes via Instagram we talk to each other. But I’m talking on the phone mainly with Karebe and Kontis”

He is so dear here in Greece.

“Yes, it is. It’s still in the group, so it’s true”

In the last six months in the Olympic team, what has kept you so dedicated?

“For many reasons, because in the last six months, my contract had expired, so I was free to do what I wanted. And at that time, you know, Olympiacos didn’t offer me a new contract. I think I wanted to wait until the season was over and that’s their right to do so there is no problem. But at the same time, Anderlecht wanted to have me back. Ok. So I was offered a contract. I was suggested a life contract afterwards. So … I played all my life in Anderlecht and so I said, since Olympiacos does not propose to me a contract, I accept the Anderlecht contract. And then he went to the newspapers and everywhere. So I thought people can say, “Okay, now it’s the last six months, Para signed a contract with Anderlecht. Maybe he is not interested in Olympiacos now. ” And I say then I have to show myself even better to prove to everyone that Olympiacos is the most important to me, because I belong to Olympiacos. I have a contract with Olympiacos and I have to respect the club, I have to respect the players, I have to respect the fans and I have to do my best and then I hope they will remember me as an honest man who is a player who gave everything to the club. And I think I managed it as we won the title in the last game”

What is the goal that has been unforgettable to you?

“A goal? Yes. There are some goals. The goal against Leverkusen in Rizoupoli, in the Champions League when we won it last year at the time in the Champions League final and won 6-2. Yes, this is a nice goal. And then we had some other free shots that have been taken at important moments but are so long before”

Indeed … many foreign players who have played in the Olympics team say they feel connected to the club after their retirement. Do you feel the same?

“Naturally. I always had only good. Remember this bonding with the team? Yes. After. And I think this is due to the fact that people respected me more when I left. Due to the fact that we won titles when I was there. And also that I left with good relationships with everyone and because of this event. So, every time I come to Greece, because I. I usually come to Greece every year on an island or somewhere else. I am always appreciated by Olympiacos fans. So that’s very nice and very important to me. Fans really love you. Your fans love them very much. And I like it. I also love them. And they always show me appreciation wherever I go. Even if it’s a long time ago, even for them. So. But that’s always nice. It’s always nice”

And are you still watching Olympiacos?

“I still follow them because as I said I am talking to Karabe so I follow Olympiacos. You know about the European. Of course I know last year’s success and I was very happy with her. The Conference League. Yes, yes, yes. But this is a European cup. It’s a European cup and that’s something fantastic. You know, they prove that they are doing very well. And the carpet, is. He’s there on the bench and helps somehow. Yes, this is true”

If you had to describe Olympiacos in a word?

“Fantastic club. Fantastic club. Ok. You can’t say anything more, because if you say fantastic club, that means everything, everything with him”

And finally, what is the message you want to send to Olympiacos, to the fans, who are currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of the team?

“A hundred fantastic years have passed in Olympiacos history. And now we go for another one hundred fantastic, even better years ahead. But don’t forget that Olympiacos is one, a fantastic club. And always, to show everyone that it is not only for football, but it is also a passionate club that respects everyone. And we always show our best, either if we win or if we lose“