Tziolis: “I never stopped believing in myself”

In a recent interview with Ta Nea, Alexandros Tziolis spoke about the criticism he received from fans, while also mentioning the decline of the national team.

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As previously reported on AGONAsport, Tziolis decided to end his professional career at the age of 35, having been unemployed since leaving Al Fayha in Saudi Arabia last summer. Although he competed at three major tournaments with the national team, the defensive midfielder attracted plenty of criticism for his performances on the international scene in recent years, with supporters focusing on his slow style of playing the game.

In an interview with Ta Nea, Tziolis was quizzed about how he reacted to being criticised and the downfall of the Ethniki Omada:

Criticism of his performances: “I shielded myself from everything, I simply put earplugs in and focused on moving forward. I never stopped believing in myself or working hard on the pitch. Moreover, I prefer to have trust from the coaches and my teammates rather than from the fans. I didn’t have the illusion that it was possible to change the supporters’ opinions or the media. Instead, I didn’t listen or read reports.”

Corruption in Greek football: “After a few years, I realised that only the minority of people want to make football in our country better. There is no desire. Unfortunately, sport cannot escape what is reflected in our society.”

Thoughts on the national team: “I began playing after UEFA Euro 2004. I competed at three major tournaments, but then there was a sudden decline. At the start, it was a team with capital letters, however a fall followed. I don’t take the responsibility away from the players, but the main responsibility lies with the people who made certain choices. Players are there to do what they’re told and do good work.”

Tziolis was on the books of Panionios, Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Siena, Racing Santander, Monaco, APOEL, PAOK, Kayserispor, Hearts and Al-Fayha as a professional footballer, winning the Super League, Greek Cup, Cypriot First Division and the German Cup. He made 75 appearances for the senior national team.

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