Ouzounidis confident ahead of PAOK test, Lucescu expecting tough game
Ouzounidis confident ahead of PAOK test, Lucescu expecting tough game
Ahead of the potentially decisive derby at the Olympic Stadium, AEK boss Marinos Ouzounidis is confident in his players’ abilities, while PAOK manager Razvan Lucescu stated that he knows how to earn the three points.
Eight points ahead of Olympiacos in first position, PAOK are edging towards their craved Super League crown, however the first of two crucial derbies sees the Dikefalos tou Vorra travel to Athens for a battle against AEK. For their part, AEK may only be fighting for second place as they trail PAOK by 14 points, but the Kitrinomavri are yet to concede a league goal in 2019. The first meeting between the sides this season saw PAOK win 2:0 with a brace from Serbian striker Aleksandar Prijovic.
Marinos Ouzounidis shared his expectations for the duel:
Expectations for playing PAOK: “Both teams are in good shape at the moment. I am expecting it to be a good derby with interesting tactics. I have confidence in my team, and with our fans’ backing, I’m sure that we will play well.”
Possible changes to the team: “No, we won’t make a lot of changes, we have excellent midfielders and in defence we are in good form. Our players are playing very well at this moment in time. The fans are attending the stadium, and in return, we want to do our best in order to make them happy.”
Comparison of this match to the meeting in Thessaloniki: “In the first game, a lot of things were different. Since then, we have changed a lot, but it has to be said that PAOK were lucky to beat us in Thessaloniki because we actually played well. I believe everything will work out in our favour.”
AEK’s failure to win a derby as yet this season: “I don’t want to talk about that. Tomorrow, we will be playing at home, and we need a victory to continue getting back on track. We must be calm psychologically. This is an important game for us all.”
PAOK head coach Razvan Lucescu expects a tough test, while praising Ouzounidis in his pre-match briefing:
What this match against AEK means: “The most important thing is for us to be fully prepared on Sunday. The three points would be key for us. We will face a good team, and, in my opinion, they have one of the best coaches in Greece.”
Whether he’s been waiting for the derby at the OAKA: “This is a match between two very good teams. However, we know exactly what needs to be done to claim the three points. If we take into account points earned on the pitch, we are 10 points ahead of Olympiacos. The only pressure which we have is to win this match.”
New PAOK winter signings: “We have a roster in which all players are important to the team. During the January transfer window, the administration made some acquisitions, and they will help the team moving forward. We’re not playing on the PlayStation where we can purchase whoever we want!”
Situation within the team concerning injuries: “No one is injured, all of our players are ready to compete.”
Factor of Ivan Savvidis travelling with the team to the OAKA: “This is a difficult match because we will be playing against a good team. The fact that the owner is with us gives us added strength and it proves that we’re a united group.”
by Shaun Nicolaides
Image Source: sportfm.gr
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