Omonia faces Nijmegen on Thursday (November 5, 7:45 p.m.) in Matchday 4 of the Europa League group stage.
The “Greens’” coach, Henning Berg, spoke at a press conference ahead of the match, emphasizing that it is an important game and that his team must be ready and at its best.
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Dutch midfielder Luke Brauers spoke on behalf of the players.
Here are his remarks in full:
Henning Berg
Initial comment: “We’re happy to be here in the Netherlands to play in the Europa League. Nijmegen had an impressive season last year. They play differently than the other teams in the Netherlands. They haven’t had the same results as last year, but they’re a very good team and have put in some strong performances. That’s one of the reasons they’ve been successful in previous years. They may not have had good results in the league, but they beat Dinamo Zagreb. We’re looking forward to the game; it will be a good learning experience against a team like that. Nijmegen relies heavily on physical strength. Our schedule is particularly demanding right now, as it is for everyone playing in Europe.”
On the importance of the match: “Every match is important. It’s just as important as the previous matches. We won our first few games; Benfica was on another level, but we were competitive. We want to be competitive in Cyprus and Europe, and if we manage to get the points we need to advance, we’ll see. We’ll do our best.”
On Nijmegen’s style of play: “They’re a different team from the others we’ve played—a very attacking team that relies on physical strength. They play direct soccer and attack with a lot of players. They play more openly than other teams and create a lot of chances. These are exciting games for neutral fans because they’re such an attacking team. We have to be ready and at our best because their style of play is different. Their coach has done a good job in recent years; they’ve had some very good results against Ajax, Olympiacos, and Dynamo.”
Team news: “All the players who have joined us are ready for the match.”
Luke Brewers
Initial comments: “It’s great to be back home. I expect it to be a good game tomorrow; I’m looking forward to the match.”
Based on his own experience, what Omonia needs to do: “We have to be 100% in everything—how we build up play, how we defend, and in one-on-one situations. They’re a tough opponent; they have quality but also weaknesses, which we’ll try to exploit.”
The differences between the Dutch league and the Cypriot league: “There’s a difference in the Dutch league; the style is different—it’s built up from behind the goalkeeper—while in Cyprus, the soccer is more direct. Ball possession is very important in the Netherlands, more so than in Cyprus.”
On the transfer and adjusting to life in Cyprus: “It went even better than I expected. They welcomed me very warmly, and adjusting has been easier. The league in Cyprus and the European matches are something I really enjoy.”
On the opportunity to see family and friends: “Of course, when I saw that we were playing against Nijmegen, I spoke with my family and friends, and I’ll see them, but my mission isn’t that—it’s to bring the three points back to Cyprus.”
On Nijmegen: “They’re a very good team; they play attacking soccer, but we have a solid defense and are strong in transition. I believe we can score.”
