Jimenez wants AEK to show pride against Panathinaikos
Ahead of the Athenian Derby, AEK head coach Manolo Jimenez revealed that despite all of the injury problems the team faces, his players will give their all against Panathinaikos in the Super League.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage from AGONASport.com!
Reigning champions AEK have struggled in their attempted defence of the Super League title, currently sitting in fourth place of the standings with seven rounds remaining. AEK are yet to win a major derby this season, but on Saturday, they have the chance to correct that statistic when hosting a gifted, albeit out of form, Panathinaikos side at the Olympic Stadium. The first meeting between these two teams in the campaign finished in a 0:0 draw.
When talking to Nova Sports, AEK boss Jimenez shared his expectations for the duel:
Injury problems: “If some players aren’t available, it’s difficult to play at your maximum potential. During the season, AEK have encountered problems with both injuries and tiredness, and this has had an effect on our results. Nevertheless, this team is full of pride, and we will do our best on Saturday.”
Possible participation of Petros Mantalos, Andre Simoes and Michalis Bakakis on Saturday: “It’s not even 100% that Dmytro Chygrynskiy will be able to compete! On Friday, we’ll see how those certain players feel. This season, the injuries of Helder Lopes and Niklas Hult have hit us hard, and maybe we pushed Bakakis and Rodrigo Galo too much.”
Thoughts ahead of playing Panathinaikos: “These two teams are big because of their rich history. Panathinaikos deserve my respect as a great Greek club. In football, either you win or you lose, but we must fight with dignity. I am sure that Panathinaikos will give us a very tough match. I want my players to continue trying their best for the remainder of the campaign, and the fans want us to honour the shirt.”
Recent performances of AEK: “We have to stop being so inconsistent, but in the end, I do expect us to return to our level. For example, we played excellently against Atromitos in the Greek Cup. However, at the moment, we haven’t been able to play at the same high level for two consecutive games. This has to change.”
Possibility of experiments in remaining Super League matches: “Everyone should earn their place in the line-up through their work at training sessions. We have to remain competitive in the Super League, as we’re fighting for third position. We also have the semi-finals of the Greek Cup ahead of us.”
Qualities of Giorgos Giannoutsos: “He’s a great left-footed player who can play in two positions. We have been speaking recently, however I’m not going to publicly reveal what was said. I believe in him and he can help us.”
