Nikolic: “We see with what is happening around us that it will not be simple and easy – Now everyone will start chasing us”

In front of one of the most demanding tests of this season, o Marko Nikolic is asked to guide AEK in a top derby with PAOK.

The Serbian technician, with a lot of experience from games high intensity and strong football “battles” in various leagues, he expressed his enthusiasm for the atmosphere that accompanies such matches, stressing that it is the reason he loves football.

Speaking to the COSMOTE TV camera, he referred to preparation of the group, the problems absencesbut also how he wants to see her AEK opposite to PAOKpointing out that it is not enough just to reach the top, but to learn how to stay there.

What Marko Nikolic told COSMOTE TV in detail:

What feelings, but also what lessons, did the immediately previous game, the one against Kifissia, leave you with?

Honestly, I’ve forgotten about this game because it was two weeks ago! But as I said after the game, for me it was the most important win since I’ve been here. No other victory, not in Europe, not anywhere. Because to come back from two goals down, have a man down and get the three points, with all the circumstances around us, I’m proud of the lads.

How did the preparation go during the break and how is the situation with the injured and with the players who have returned from their international obligations?

It’s always difficult, this time we had not ten, but eleven internationals. One more than last time, eleven players in their national teams. On the one hand, we are all proud because AEK has eleven international players. It is something very good for the image of the club. On the other hand, it is very difficult for the coach and the staff to organize the training sessions during these periods. Especially when they start to come back, like this week. Because some came just today (i.e. Friday) to train, some had jet lag because they come from either Africa or South America. So we have players from all over the world in our team, we have to be proud of that, but it’s not easy to get everyone back together again. And always these games after the FIFA break are difficult. Not only for AEK, but for all the teams in the world that have many internationals. As it is, this is nothing new, we have had it twice this season, we will have it again and we have to find a way.

You have before you the game against PAOK. What do you think?

Big game between the first and second in the standings. As I said after the last game, I’m very happy that we went into this October break alone at the top of the table. Because that says something about us, as a group, for the moment. But it is not important to be first in October, but at the end. So, it won’t be an easy race. We see it with what is happening around us, that it will not be simple and easy. What I want is for the team to stay focused, to stay focused on what we can do on the pitch. And we can do a lot on the pitch. To have that fighting spirit, which we have so far, to fight every moment, to never give up.

To always be ready to give what we have in us for our team, for our club. And in this case, I will always be satisfied. The result sometimes comes, sometimes not because it is impossible in football to win all the time. But to look at ourselves and be proud of who we are. So, that’s what I expect in this game. A team that will go to play at home, angry in a positive sense, a team with motivation, self-belief. And to defend the first place. It’s not too difficult to be in first place at some point. But it is very difficult to stay there. Now everyone will start chasing us to take our place and now we have to defend it. The first step is on Sunday night at our stadium.

You have faced PAOK again as a coach, but now you have your first Greek derby ahead of you. Is it something special for you?

Yes, I’m excited. I was part of these derbies in every country I worked because I was lucky enough to coach some big teams. I was in Partizan – Red Star, CSKA Moscow – Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow – Zenit and other derbies. Even in Shebab Al Ahli – Al Ain or Shebab Al Ahli – Al Nasr, which are three of the best teams in that part of the world, not just in their country. I was also in Vidy – Ferencvaros and Olympia Ljubljana – Maribor. But now it’s my first Greek derby and after seven days the second will come against Olympiakos. And it’s one of the reasons I came here, because I love the derby atmosphere.

I love the emotions from the stands, from the crowd, the journalists, the players. I think football for me is about that, about the feeling. So, personally I’m excited and looking forward to this game. I have faced PAOK twice in my career in the Europa League seven years ago. We won both times in Budapest and Thessaloniki. But I see absolutely no correlation between those two games because they are completely different teams and clubs. The only coincidence is that Razvan was on one bench and I was on the other. There is nothing else in common with the game we will have on Sunday.