Iñaki Peña said in an interview with AS that he is very satisfied with what he has found at Panathinaikos and impressed by the rivalry with Olympiacos.
The Spanish goalkeeper spoke about his experience in his first derby at “G. Karaiskakis Stadium,” and noted that in terms of fan passion and intensity, this match was second only to those in Turkey.
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Here are his comments in detail:
-What’s life like in Athens?
“So far, everything’s going well. In terms of size, atmosphere, food, people, and quality of life, it’s comparable to a city like Barcelona. The language is much more complicated, and for now, I’m getting by in English. The experience has been very positive, and we’re doing well on the sports front.”
-What’s your relationship like with the fans—both your team’s and your opponents’—off the field?
“People here are very passionate, and everything is a bit extreme. If things go well, it’s fantastic, but if they go wrong, tension builds up immediately. I don’t go out much, and I lead a family-centered life—I have a young son and am expecting another one in January. The rivalry is palpable everywhere, but I haven’t run into any problems on the street, and people treat me with respect.”
-What was the atmosphere like during your visit to Olympiacos’ home stadium for the derby against your “eternal” rival?
“Very similar to what I experienced in Turkey. In the days leading up to the match, you immediately realize this isn’t just any ordinary game. The atmosphere was incredible, even though the crowd was against us. We lost 1-0 on a long-range free kick and a play that resulted from a rebound, but it was pure coincidence, since we didn’t play to our full potential. After all, we’ve won all our other games so far. Also, something very strange happened…
-What happened?
“Before the match, I looked at the lineups and was quite surprised when I saw who the referee was. It was Hernández Hernández. I asked around and found out that UEFA assigns referees to important, high-stakes games to avoid any suspicions or tensions. They’ve been doing this for a while now, with the goal of preventing any problems.”
-Do you think this measure could be implemented in Spain, for example in a match like the one at Camp Nou?
“I hadn’t thought about it until I experienced it firsthand, but now I believe so. These are referees who are completely outside the sphere of influence of either team, and I think it’s a good initiative. It would be a positive development for foreign referees to officiate a “Clasico.” It makes sense, since they’re accustomed to officiating high-level European matches, which prevents any suspicion. Furthermore, it dispels any doubts or misconceptions the public might have about them, especially ahead of such a crucial match.”
-How does being in a “heated” atmosphere—with flares and a scene reminiscent of hell—affect an opposing goalkeeper?
““When that moment comes, you know what you’re getting into and what to expect. You try to prepare as best you can so you don’t lose your focus in such a tense atmosphere. Efforts are being made to eliminate the use of flares, as matches were being interrupted far too often, and there was agreement among all parties to take a unified stance. The issue remains under review, but there’s also the problem with laser pointers.”
-Did you encounter this at Olympiacos’ stadium?
“Yes. For more than seventy minutes—in a ninety-minute match—someone was constantly aiming a laser pointer at me from the other end of the field, trying to throw me off. I had to make an effort to ignore it, since it’s difficult to stop the game every time to find the culprit. I had to adapt, since these are situations I can’t control.”
-Are the passion and rivalry in an Athens derby comparable to those of a “Clasico”?
““In terms of media coverage and global impact, it’s obviously not the same, but it could be compared to a Betis-Sevilla derby. The fact that the teams are based in the same city intensifies the situation, and the atmosphere starts to heat up much earlier. Even when you’re at the hotel, fans of the opposing team are setting off firecrackers. What I experienced at the “Karaiskakis” Stadium is unlike anything you’d see in a “Clasico” in terms of the pressure and the atmosphere. It’s a matter of culture, and you have to adapt.”
The rivalry extends to basketball as well… “Absolutely
. They take it personally. You’re either one of us or one of them. You see it every day on the street. When you’re driving, you see graffiti against the rival team, and the fans experience it with tremendous passion.”
-You also experienced a Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe game up close, even if it was from the bench. How would you compare it to “El Clásico” and the Greek derby in terms of intensity?
“The ranking, based on the atmosphere in the stadium and the passion, would be: Turkey, Greece, and Spain, in that order—always referring to the most intense rivalries, such as Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. That’s what I experienced. What they say about the ‘Turkish hell’ is absolutely true.”
-You played 45 games for Barcelona. How did you feel when you left the club?
“It was a difficult decision to leave, because I’d joined as a child and felt right at home there. It was a complicated situation, both personally and for my family, but I wanted to try a new adventure abroad and experience a different culture. I needed to play and feel important by being a regular contributor. It was a step I was eager to take. The change was abrupt, but the decision was the right one.”
*photo source: pao.gr
