Optimistic that PAOK will find its footing, despite losing a key pillar of its game following the sale of Giannis Konstantelias, Alessio Lisi spoke ahead of tonight’s match against Levadiakos (9:00 p.m.).
Specifically, the Italian coach spoke to Nova about:
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
-the match against Levadiakos: “I feel great and I’m looking forward to the game against Levadiakos. Of course, we’ve analyzed them from their friendlies and the cup match; they’re a good team that’s also going through a transition. We’ll have to manage a lot during the match—it’ll be a dangerous game.”
-On the decision not to request a postponement, unlike Panathinaikos: “The thought crossed my mind, but I felt we had to play; we are PAOK, and we must face this challenge and come out on top.”
-His work with PAOK: “I’m happy to be at PAOK—for the club and for the fans. New beginnings are always difficult, especially when you’re trying to change the style of play; I’m satisfied with how I’ve adapted to the team, and we’ll do quite well. We have a lot to improve, starting with the match against Levadiakos, where we’re aiming for the win.”
-On the challenges he faces, such as Konstantelias’ departure: “In my professional career, I’ve dealt with very difficult situations, such as the assignment I had last year. I always like to fight; everything here is new, but I believe that so far we’ve handled most situations well, I’m happy with the club and the players, who are showing their spirit; we want to bring joy to the fans and secure the win. The hard part is building chemistry with the players—a new team. In this process, we’ve faced some challenges, such as the departure of Konstantelia, which meant we lost a significant amount of quality; but it’s my job to work with the team and make it even stronger. At the same time, there are big matches that can’t wait, such as the one against Brann, where a spot in the European group stage is on the line, but our focus is on the game against Levadiakos and the three points. The support of the club, the fans, and the great team we are.”
*photo source: KYPE
