SLGR Player Review: Carrera inspires AEK turnaround
AGONAsport analyses the performances of each AEK player during the 2019/2020 campaign, with Massimo Carrera having inspired an impressive turnaround.
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Carrera, who replaced Nikos Kostenoglou as head coach in late November, quickly fixed the defensive problems to bring AEK within one point of second-placed PAOK and a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Having introduced an effective system which uses the best qualities of his squad, the Italian was the brains behind a fantastic start to 2020, and it’s rather unfortunate for AEK that the coronavirus pandemic stopped them in their tracks. AEK are also 90 minutes away from a fifth consecutive Greek Cup final.
Let’s take a look at AEK’s standout, reliable and disappointing performers throughout the season:
THE STANDOUT PERFORMERS
Petros Mantalos
11 goals, 10 assists. The 28-year-old has enjoyed his best campaign for quite some time. Capable of playing either on the left wing or in a more central role, Mantalos has been in great form throughout the entire campaign, even at the start of the season when Miguel Cardoso and Nikos Kostenoglou were in charge. Nine of his assists were tallied in the Super League.
In the summer, AEK were dreadful in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers against Universitatea Craiova and Trabzonspor, but he did manage to score three goals across the four matches. Basaksehir of Turkey are reportedly interested in signing Mantalos.
Vasilis Barkas
Barkas has been a consistent performer over the course of the past few years. With foreign teams keeping an eye on his progress, the goalkeeper has been solid for AEK between the sticks again this season, recording 10 clean sheets in 20 league games and only conceding 15 goals along the way. The talented, tall 25-year-old is valued at three million by Transfermarkt with AEK demanding closer to 10 million.
Nelson Oliveira
The Portuguese striker immediately started the campaign in strong scoring form after transferring from Norwich City. Following an injury problem in early 2020, Oliveira lost his place in the starting line-up to Sergio Araujo, but the fact that he scored nine goals and made four assists in 17 Super League matches cannot be ignored. Wolverhampton Wanderers were close to signing the 28-year-old in the winter transfer window.
Marko Livaja
Livaja maintains his status as one of the championship’s most naturally gifted players. Although he is somewhat temperamental and moody, Livaja is blessed with wonderful technical ability, beating opponents for pure skill and providing well needed flair. The Croatian forward struck the jackpot 10 times and tallied nine assists across all tournaments in the current campaign.
THE RELIABLE PERFORMERS
Ognjen Vranjes
The controversial Bosnian defender returned to AEK on loan from Anderlecht to much fanfare. For the most part, Vranjes has provided AEK with a strong physical presence in the centre of defence, but his lack of discipline and foolish social-media antics have got him in hot water. Vranjes has a close affiliation with the Original 21 movement.
Sergio Araujo
It’s hard to describe just how strongly Araujo is adored by AEK fans. In January, Araujo received a hero’s welcome at the airport when joining on loan from Las Palmas for the third time, and he promptly scored the winning goal against Panathinaikos to fire AEK to their first derby triumph since April 2018. However, that proved to be his only marker for AEK in the season, with the Argentine often guilty of missing clear opportunities. His passion and effort on the pitch are greatly appreciated by the supporters.
Damian Szymanski
The Polish midfielder has impressed since joining on loan in the winter. Competing in the middle of the park, Szymanski provides a reliable link between defence and attack, linking up well with his teammates and capable of providing a threat with probing passes. AEK are expected to sign the 24-year-old Pole on a permanent basis from Akhmat Grozny when the season ends.
Konstantinos Galanopoulos
Injuries have prevented Galanopoulos from taking his game to the next level. Nevertheless, even though the 22-year-old has been restricted to 15 appearances in the 2019/2020 campaign, he still caught the eye with his calm, composed displays. Galanopoulos scored a vital goal against Xanthi which presented Carrera with his maiden victory as AEK boss in November.
Michalis Bakakis
It wasn’t exactly a brilliant season for Bakakis, but he was certainly better than Paulinho. Since transferring to AEK from Panetolikos in 2014, Bakakis has offered plenty of energy, endeavour and intent on the right flank, running tirelessly up and down the flank. At times, though, his lack of technical skill is exposed by opposing teams. Bakakis scored a memorable goal against Panathinaikos in November.
Panagiotis Tsintotas
Tsintotas, 26, participated in seven Super League matches as a result of injuries suffered by Barkas. Overall, the former Levadiakos star was solid when on duty for the Enosi, not committing any major errors while not stealing the show either. Tsintotas has largely served as deputy to Barkas since joining AEK in July 2017.
Andre Simoes
Another solid, if not spectacular, performer for AEK. Over the years, Simoes has been a key figure for the Kitrinomavri in central midfield, shielding the defence well and and breaking up the opponents’ play. Simoes’ standout moment of the season arrived in Tripoli in September as he glanced in a last-gasp winner to beat Asteras in a thriller.
Christos Almpanis
Almpanis possesses all of the necessary qualities to potentially become a hugely important player for AEK on the left wing. A direct, powerful footballer, Almpanis causes problems for opposing defences on a regular basis, but he needs to add more end product to his game. The 25-year-old scored two goals and made two assists in the league.
Stratos Svarnas
To the surprise of many, Svarnas played in 18 games this season in the centre of the AEK defence, convincing the coaches that he is capable of playing at a high level. Still only 22 years of age, the defender is slowly improving with the Enosi, and he earned the trust of Carrera with competent performances next to Vranjes.
Helder Lopes
There is a feeling that Lopes’ time at AEK is approaching its conclusion. In 20 games this season, the 31-year-old played in 20 games for the Enosi, scoring the one goal and making two assists from the left flank. His pacey forades from defence have been a good asset for AEK, however he’s probably past his best.
Anel Sabanadzovic
AEK signed the 20-year-old midfielder from Zeljeznicar in January 2019, but he only started playing for the Athenian club at the start of this season. Since making his debut in December against Panionios, Sabanadzovic has proved that he boasts the potential to grow into a quality player, even being selected for the senior Bosnian national team for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs which were later postponed. One to watch.
Ziga Laci
The teenage defender is another exciting prospect on AEK’s books. After moving from ND Mura in the winter, it was expected that Laci would be sent to the AEK reserves for the remainder of the season, but Carrera decided to give the tall centre-back a chance with the senior team. The 17-year-old made a solid debut in a 1-1 draw at Panionios in the final round of the regular season.
Nenad Krsticic
Krsticic hasn’t quite lived up to his potential since AEK signed the midfielder from Red Star Belgrade last January. However, while the Serbian has not transformed into the dominant player which AEK had hoped to see, he has been reliable and improved after Carrera replaced Kostenoglou as manager. Krsticic scored one goal in the league and another in the Greek Cup.
Dmytro Chygrynskiy
The ageing Ukrainian missed the concluding weeks of the campaign due to more injury issues. Unlike previous seasons, Chygrynskiy did occasionally show frailties in the AEK defence, sometimes losing out to opposing forwards thanks to his lack of mobility. The 33-year-old does have the option to extend his AEK contract for another year.
THE DISAPPOINTING PERFORMERS
Viktor Klonaridis
His pace, directness and explosiveness are key attributes which have their place in this AEK team. Due to varying reasons, Klonaridis hasn’t been able to build up any kind of lengthy momentum with AEK since returning to the club in 2017, but when he has confidence we see what damage he can do. Klonaridis scored at Volos in January before equalising against Panionios in Nea Smyrni with a memorable strike.
Paulinho
He’s no Rodrigo Galo. Last year, AEK signed Paulinho as a direct replacement for Galo at right-back, but he has disappointed with underwhelming performances. It’s unlikely that Carrera will have Paulinho in his plans for the 2020/2021 season.
Niklas Hult
This was his worst season with the Kitrinomavri since he moved from Panathinaikos in January 2018. When in good form, Hult provides an attacking threat on the left flank with his forward-thinking play, but defensively he can be found wanting. It is not yet known whether AEK will extend Hult’s contract which is due to expire in June.
Marios Oikonomou
Oikonomou is a solid centre-back on his day. Sadly for the 27-year-old, he lost his place in the starting XI towards the end of the regular season, with Carrera preferring to play Svarnas and Vranjes at the heart of the AEK defence. He is under contract with the organisation for another two years.
Daniele Verde
AEK expected more from the Italian winger. Verde finally began showing his capabilities as the season progressed, settling in the team and visibly gaining more confidence. On the face of it, a return of four goals and three assists isn’t particularly bad, but the management was hopeful of witnessing better numbers.
Giorgos Athanasiadis
To put it lightly, the move to AEK from Asteras Tripolis has been a catastrophe. Zero appearances says everything you need to know.
Giannis-Fivos Botos
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was restricted to two substitute appearances in the Super League, so it’s not particularly fair to judge him. Nonetheless, when he was pitch, he didn’t look particularly comfortable or confident.
Christos Giousis
In the last couple of years, Giousis has tried to somehow force his way into the AEK first team, but he hasn’t yet had any major success. The 21-year-old was loaned to Platanias in January in order to receive game time at senior level.
Francisco Geraldes
Geraldes was meant to become the new attacking force when AEK snapped him up on loan from Sporting Lisbon. However, it was an awful bit of business by the Enosi, as Geraldes only succeeded in receiving a red card against Xanthi on matchday one of the Super League while playing at a mediocre level. The Portuguese attacking midfielder left during the season.
David Simao
Simao, another Portuguese midfielder signed by Cardoso in the summer, failed to make any kind of positive impression with AEK. The 29-year-old was loaned to Hapoel Beer Sheva in January and is unlikely to receive a second chance with the Kitrinomavri.
Milos Deletic
Initially, Deletic made a positive start to life at AEK, as he scored the equaliser against PAOK in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Olympic Stadium. He didn’t last long at the club, though, with the Serbian winger being shifted out on loan to Asteras after giving dour showings in Athens.
Giorgos Giakoumakis
One Super League goal across three seasons with AEK is not a statistic to shout about. While his effort and desire cannot be questioned, Giakoumakis simply doesn’t possess the necessary quality to play for AEK, an opinion supported by the statistics. He moved to Gornik Zabrze on loan in March.
Stavros Vasilantonopoulos
In January, the right-back competed in two matches against AE Larissa and Volos as a substitute in the Super League, but Carrera did not have him in his plans. Vasilantonopoulos transferred to Gornik Zabrze as a loanee alongside Giakoumakis.
