AEK third again after eventful campaign

AGONAsport’s AEK contributor, Greg Gavalas, summarises the 2019/2020 campaign for the Kitrinomavri after the team finished in third place of the Super League for the second successive year.

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Just like in the 2018/2019 season, AEK were only good enough for third position of the Super League, well behind champions Olympiacos and falling short of sneaking into second ahead of PAOK. Initially, the Enosi were the favourites for second spot in the championship playoffs, but PAOK subsequently had their seven-point deduction overturned and managed to beat Olympiacos in Piraeus. 

AEK started the campaign under technical director Nikos Lymberopoulos and head coach Miguel Cardoso. At first, they had plenty of promise as the Portuguese coach was dedicated to hard work, but the early signs were not great in pre-season with weak results against modest opposition. The highlight under Cardoso was a UEFA Europa League 2-0 away win over Romanian side, Universitatea Craiova, but that was the only competitive victory with the Portuguese manager in charge.

The disappointing start was compounded with a damming 3-1 loss to Trabzonspor at home in the Europa League qualification playoffs and a 2-1 defeat against Xanthi in Athens on matchday one of the Super League. Following the shock setback to Xanthi, Cardoso was immediately sacked by Dimitris Melissanidis, while Lymberopoulos submitted his resignation.

Not for the first time, Nikos Kostenoglou would step in and we immediately saw an improved AEK, with the players noting his excellent approach to the training process. In his maiden game at the helm, AEK impressed with a superb performance against Trabzonspor in Turkey, triumphing 2-0 with goals from Petros Mantalos and Marko Livaja. However, due to the away goals rule, AEK were knocked out of the competition.

AEK tallied four wins in a row with Kostenoglou. Nevertheless, when picking up a 2-2 draw with PAOK at the Olympic Stadium, the warning signs began to appear as the team produced a dreadful defensive display. 

The main problem with Kostenoglou’s 3-5-2 formation was the frailties in defence. In the pulsating derby against Panathinaikos at the OAKA, AEK had a 2-0 lead and were in the box seat, but after missing several clear chances the Enosi lost control of the match and contrived to somehow lose 3-2. In the two next games, AEK could only draw 1-1 with Aris and lose 1-0 to OFI, results which saw the management sack Kostenoglou and hire Massimo Carrera as his replacement. 

AEK thrashed Panionios 5-0 at the OAKA in Kostenoglou’s concluding game as head coach. Carrera and his team would transform the team, first stop would be defence, the Kitrinomavrodefence was conceding almost 1.5 goals a game before the former Juventus defender took charge,this number would drop to 0.5 in Carrera’s first 18 games which is a staggering 65% improvement.

Carrera, who previously won the Russian Premier League with Spartak Moscow, effectively sorted out the defensive issues. Before the Italian moved to Athens, AEK were conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game, but that figure was reduced to 0.5 in Carrera’s first 18 matches as coach: a staggering improvement of 65%.

On February 9, AEK finally broke their lengthy derby drought, defeating Panathinaikos 1-0 with Sergio Araujo hitting the jackpot. Sadly, though, that was Araujo’s only highlight of the season, as he registered an underwhelming return of three goals after joining on loan from Las Palmas in the winter. A confident AEK beat Aris on the road in the next Super League game as the players began playing with belief and consistency.

Overall, in 29 matches after receiving the role of head coach, Carrera recorded 18 wins, eight draws and three defeats with a positive goal difference of +28 (48-20). AEK really can hope for bigger and better things next season with Carrera coaching the team, especially if Melissanidis delivers on his desire to sign six new players.

On the player front, something to get excited about include the form of Nelson Oliveira in latter part of the regular season and play offs, the Portuguese international, did very well with his finishing but also in creating opportunities and his combinations with Livaja and Mantalos. The Livaja and Mantalos combo was one that impressed and both players stepped up under Carrera, they not only scored critical goals but provided 19 assists between the two (Mantalos 10 and Livaja 9).

On the player front, Nelson Oliveira improved in the playoffs with his sharp finishing and combination play with Marko Livaja and Petros Mantalos. Moreover, Livaja and Mantalos were in deadly form throughout the entire season for AEK, with the pair providing a combined total of 19 assists.  On the right wing, Daniele Verde and Christos Almpanis both showed signs of talent and promise, but they will need to compete with more consistency in order to make the mark even more. Bright Enobakhare, who was released by Wolverhampton Wanderers, is looking to take a step to the next level after AEK penned a contract with the forward. 

In the midfield, Damian Szymanski was solid after transferring on loan from Akhmat Grozny in the winter, playing well enough to persuade AEK to sign a permanent deal with him. In more positive news, Kostas Galanopoulos will return to the field after problems with injuries, with the midfielder considered as one of the most talented players for his position in Greece. 

The biggest area for improvement, however, is the defence which still committed several major mistakes under the guidance of Carrera. In the centre of defence, it’s predicted that Ognjen Vranjes will return to the organisation as a free agent from Anderlecht, while stronger options are needed on the flanks in place of Helder Lopes and Michalis Bakakis. 

It’s certainly an exciting time to see who AEK will sign. Providing the club retains Vasilis Barkas and Oliveira, on top of making good defensive signings, it’s not out of the question that AEK can challenge for the title in the final campaign at the OAKA before moving into the Agia Sofia Stadium.

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