Akis Mantzios sees tomorrow’s (Nov. 15, 4:00 p.m.) match against Montenegro at the “Alphamega Stadium.” As is well known, our country and our opponent have secured second and first place, respectively; however, the national team coach emphasized at the pre-match press conference that there is plenty of motivation, while also mentioning the crowd expected at the stadium. Kostakis Artymatas gave a brief overview of the team’s performance so far.
Here’s what they said in detail:
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Akis Mantzios: “We’re here to play our final match; we’re on track to meet our goal, and we’ve achieved one of the objectives we set at the beginning. This is a game with no bearing on the standings. We want to continue the strong performance we’ve shown. We also need to prepare for the games in March.
Kostakis has given his all to Cypriot soccer and commands our utmost respect. What we’ve achieved is thanks to the players. This national team has a future; there’s talent, and year after year, the national team will make progress. I think all the players gave it their all in Armenia… and in every match. We played good soccer in every game; even against Latvia, which seemed like it would be a walk in the park, it wasn’t. There are no easy matches. Armenia was very strong at home. We underestimated them… but we’re focusing on the positives. We may forget where we came from and look only at the present, but I think we need to maintain a sense of balance.
Regarding the changes he’s considering and his message to the fans: “Tomorrow’s game is important; we’ll definitely manage the lineup and how we allocate playing time. We’ll give playing time to players who haven’t played yet without disrupting our team chemistry. We’re looking forward to seeing them with great joy—it’s important to us… We experienced that intensely in Armenia and Montenegro, and that’s what we want. The fans give us strength, and we want them to embrace us.
When I arrived, I spoke with the players and acted accordingly based on what I heard. The old ways of doing things no longer exist; you can’t have a future with that kind of mindset, just to make the national team. It was clear what we wanted to build, and I’m not just referring to the respect that now exists… but also to the way we play. What Kostakis said is important… whether they play or not—because we can’t have everyone play—it’s about cohesion, the chain. As long as I’m here, that will never change.”
Kostakis Artymatas: “Our stance on tomorrow’s game is clear. I want to focus a bit on the progress of our national team… I’ve been with the national team since 2012—that’s 14 years now. Over the last two years, ever since the coach and his staff took over—and I’m not just talking about the results… The progress is evident in the way we play. He’s brought a clear direction, and above all, confidence in our abilities and in the way we approach games. That has changed—it’s thanks to the players who followed his lead, as well as the coach himself. When the season began, we set a goal and believed in it; we had the courage to fight for it, and that put us in a position to compete for promotion—something the national team hasn’t done in many, many years. Consistent results and the belief not only that we could dream, but that we could make those dreams a reality.
We could have made a run at the standings, but now that these games are over, none of us feels that sense of “we could have.” We gave it our all in these games. A national team in name only might sound like one thing, but that’s not the case… Another thing the coach said—for me, the most important thing is to have stability and balance, because for so many years we’d soar to great heights and then come crashing down. We have stability now, and that’s what we need.
There’s been a change, and it’s a combination of factors—the coach brought it about, but the players were also willing and are willing to follow the direction the coach has set. Everyone is willing to follow through. There’s a spirit of self-sacrifice—running for one another, fighting for one another… whether they’re playing, on the roster, or not. This is thanks to the coach and his staff, who have fostered this spirit within the team.”
It should be noted that seven players on the national team are on the verge of receiving yellow cards, which carry over to the playoffs, so careful management is expected there as well, while advance ticket sales have reached 5,000. Ticket booths will also be open at the stadium before the match.
