Melissanidis impressed with Carrera impact
Since becoming the head coach, Massimo Carrera has finally managed to get AEK back on track, something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by club supremo, Dimitris Melissanidis.
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AEK have eventually found their groove. Until Carrera replaced Nikos Kostenoglou as manager in early December, the Kitrinomavri were enduring a miserable campaign, but the Italian coach has turned the situation on its head. Since taking charge, Carrera has been at the helm for 15 matches, tallying 10 victories, four draws, one defeat and a positive goal difference of +16 (22-6).
Before Carrera arrived in Athens, AEK were conceding goals for fun in the Super League, but now the Enosi are extremely hard to score against. AEK have only conceded one goal in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Melissanidis has understandably been impressed by what he has seen. According to reports, he wants to sign a new contract with Carrera in the summer, eager to keep him at the club for when AEK make their grand return to Nea Filadelfeia at the Agia Sofia Stadium. It has recently been suggested that AEK will only move into their new ground ahead of the 2021/2022 campaign, with the Athenians set to spend next season at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium in nearby Rizoupoli.
The only chance of Carrera leaving AEK after the current campaign ends is if a foreign club makes the 55-year-old a tempting proposal. AEK, in superb form and displaying excellent football with the likes of Petros Mantalos and Sergio Araujo playing at their best, sit in third place of the Super League and are in the semi-finals of the Greek Cup. Only one round of the regular season remains.
AEK SET TO PURCHASE SZYMANSKI
In January, AEK signed Damian Szymanski on loan from Russian outfit Akhmat Grozny, and the Kitrinomavri are now expected to secure the permanent signature of the talented Polish midfielder.
So far, Szymanski has been a consistent performer for AEK in midfield, providing a productive link between defence and attack. If reports from the AEK camp are to be believed, Melissanidis is delighted with Szymanski’s performances, consequently making the decision to sign the 24-year-old on a permanent basis.
The release clause for Szymanski from Akhmat stands at 1.5 million euros. However, in the coming weeks, technical director Ilija Ivic will try to lower that amount while engaging in negotiations with Akhmat. Szymanski is also in contention to represent Poland at UEFA Euro 2020.
Szymanski has popped up with one assist for AEK in six Super League matches to date.
