Aris eager to avoid naivety with Olympiacos, Martins preparing for testing match
With an intriguing Super League derby approaching on Sunday, Aris captain Georgios Delizisis wants his team to improve after recent setbacks, while Olympiacos boss Pedro Martins is aware of the opponents’ quality.
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After starting the season so well, Aris have faltered in the past three matches, losing to Panionios (0:1), PAOK (1:2) and AEK (0:4) to drop to seventh in the Super League table. The Thessaloniki club are in dire need of a victory, but on Sunday, they’re faced with the tough task of playing a motivated Olympiacos side. The Erythrolefkoi are recovering from a difficult run, and after beating Apollon Smyrnis last week and seeing PAOK draw with Atromitos, they have the chance to move within four points of first place.
In a discussion with the media, Aris captain and defender Georgios Delizisis shared his pre-match thoughts:
Manner of defeat to AEK: “When playing PAOK, we were competitive, but it was the opposite against AEK. To be honest, it was an embarrassing performance and we have to get back to winning ways at home. It’s very important.”
Criticism coming Aris’ way: “Apart from the defeats to PAOK and AEK, I think we’ve done really well so far, while playing some brilliant football along the way. The efforts being undertaken by the coaches and players should never be undermined.”
Loss of Fran Velez in the centre of defence: “He’s a great player, but alongside him, we have excellent centre-backs like Mergim Mavraj and Hugo Sousa. If we fall apart because one particular player isn’t on the pitch, we have a serious problem. This isn’t the case and we have alternative options.”
Key factor which will decide the outcome against Olympiacos: “The first goal will be crucial. However, even if we score first, we have to be careful because PAOK taught us a lesson. At times, we’ve played naively. Olympiacos will not forgive us for making any mistakes in this match.”
Olympiacos boss Pedro Martins revealed that Egyptian forward Ahmed Hassan is ready to play against Aris while giving his views on the situation surrounding the club:
The quality of Aris: “This Aris team has lots of experienced players, and some of them have actually played for Olympiacos in the past. Aris like to protect possession and create opportunities. In their previous home match against PAOK, they should have got something from the game. Their passionate fans make life difficult for any visiting team, so we have to be fully prepared for the atmosphere.”
Whether Ahmed Hassan is ready to play: “Apart from Miguel Angel Guerrero, all of our players are fit for this match.”
Improvements which Olympiacos require: “There are many things which need improvement, for example scoring more goals. We signed plenty of new players in the summer and they require time to fully adapt. Personally, I feel that the support of our fans is key, they give us extra energy and motivation when competing on the field. When we played PAOK at home, the result wasn’t positive, but the supporters knew that we did everything we possibly could to win. Over the past year, the support for this team has grown and it’s so important to us!”
Role of Vasilis Torosidis within the team: “It’s a blessing that he returned to Olympiacos. It is no coincidence that Vasilis has captained the Greek national team. He’s a leader in the dressing room and he helps the others perform well with his experience. The victory in the Greek Cup? We played well under the circumstances and qualified for the next round.”
