Vieirinha: “We want to continue our winning streak”
Injured PAOK captain Vieirinha wants to keep the winning streak going at the Toumba Stadium, while interim Aris manager Apostolos Terzis feels the atmosphere within his team has changed.
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The first Derby of Macedonia of the 2019/2020 season promises to be a cracker. PAOK started the campaign with UEFA Champions League heartbreak yet again, but the reigning champions have subsequently made a positive start to their Super League title defence by winning all three games so far. Just like their city rivals, Aris also suffered European disappointment, however they got back on track last week with a 4-0 thrashing of Panathinaikos.
Injured PAOK captain Vieirinha shared his feelings ahead of the match:
Frustration of not being able to play in such a major derby: “Yes, it’s difficult when you can’t help your team, but I trust my teammates. We expect a tough game, but we’re playing at home and we want to continue our winning streak at the Toumba Stadium.”
Mindset for derbies: “Nothing much changes, you have to cope with the pressure which comes with playing in derby matches. There is always more pressure and higher adrenaline, but you must keep that under control. We want to continue winning.”
Difficult start to the season: “Initially, we had two good games against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League, but we suffered elimination. We have changed the way we play football. Hopefully, the matches against Slovan Bratislava won’t repeat themselves.”
When he will return to action: “Soon, if everything goes to plan. I don’t want to start setting dates, but I am getting better with every passing day. I will soon be back.”
Apostolos Terzis, the current interim Aris boss after Savvas Pantelidis resigned, shared his expectations:
Tactics against PAOK: “PAOK have changed their style after the new coach arrived. We know their strengths. We will do our best to cope with them and take advantage of our opportunities. Both of these teams are good at creating chances to score goals. All of our players are ready for this match, they understand what it means.”
Experience of playing against these opponents: “Last season, most of our players competed at the Toumba Stadium against PAOK in both the Greek Cup and the Super League. This is a special match for Thessaloniki and northern Greece. We want to play good football and make people happy. We understand what needs to be done in order to achieve a positive result.”
His position as temporary head coach: “The president and Angelos Charisteas told me to prepare the team for this match. The most important thing is that the victory against Panathinaikos gave the players confidence again, they were in a great mood during our training sessions. The mentality within the group has changed.”
