The president of the AEK Veterans Association, Giorgos Konstantinou, spoke to “SPOR FM 95.0” about Kamoranesi’s dismissal, the team’s performance, and the need for immediate changes. At the same time, he expressed his concerns about the future and the new coach who will be called upon to restore AEK to its leading role.
Here’s what he said in detail
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
On Camoranesi’s dismissal: “Look, for sure. It’s all about the work you put in and what you deliver. Over the course of three months, there was enough time to build something, to make it happen, to create this team under the conditions everyone wanted—that is, the conditions that were in place. It was definitely one of those years when there was time, and transfers were made quickly. I believe that this period caused them to lose my identity as well. I mean, there’s no way that could happen. It couldn’t have hurt us. And to convince the fans that he would pick up where he left off last year—that is, from previous seasons. There was no clear philosophy on the field regarding the team’s style of play, the players we knew, or the team’s development—except for the passion we saw in the match against Romania. The players did indeed show passion. But once again, there were weaknesses, especially on defense.”
If there were any doubts: “Doubts about the team’s lineup and about the players who took the field and those who were selected for the matches. All right, okay, we always say that a coach knows his team better than anyone else; he trains with them. He has to know them better than any of us. What can any coach offer him, but… The one we saw, especially in the game in Larnaca—because qualification was lost in Larnaca, and I’ll say it again and emphasize this: qualification was lost in Larnaca. He couldn’t convince anyone that this team was going to make it—period. We were vulnerable in both defense and offense, with limited opportunities and the conditions he created—and I think all of this started to show even in the friendlies they played, especially in the last one, which was the last straw—that’s where it all ended.”
If he had lost the support of the locker room: “What’s certain is that he didn’t inspire the players to play. In soccer, to win over the locker room—because we don’t always realize that a coach has to win over the locker room and get his players on his side first. Yes, we say they’re professionals and they play for the money, but soccer players are people who are influenced by their emotions. If the coach can’t inspire you and there are issues—meaning you don’t trust him, you can’t follow his instructions, or he can’t give you the right instructions—then these problems arise. Surely this was the case, and we weren’t the only ones who saw it—it’s what led us to the point of parting ways. I think it wasn’t just us who saw it; the people who are there saw it too.”
Regarding the second wave of planning we’re seeing at AEK: “Certainly, the fact that we’ve reached this second wave of planning means that the first wave wasn’t satisfactory. And since you’re not satisfied, you have to take certain steps to address the issues that were left out. It means compensation, it means players leaving, it means others coming in. It means so many things. But there’s also the AEK fanbase, which is worried. We’re all worried; we’re all waiting to see something better. I mean, we’ve gotten used to a team that, for the last 10 or 12 years—as far as I know—has been a contender from one moment to the next. I see a team that has lost its identity, that isn’t delivering what people expect—and not just AEK fans. I mean, even neutral fans and supporters of other teams—they, too, have been disappointed and are wondering what’s going on at AEK, given the image the club is projecting. You understand what I mean.”
Regarding the changes that will be made: “Yes, I think changes are necessary right now. It’s a dire situation—it’s like seeing a patient who’s in bed with a fever; you have to do something. In other words, something has to be done. I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know what’s done in such a case, but in the example we gave, the doctors have to find a way. The people who are there will figure it out… I hope we don’t waste this time while the coach gets to know the team—and if he’s someone who isn’t familiar with the league, because these things happen. Two years ago, when there was a change at that time with Ben Simon. He was someone who knew Cypriot soccer and AEK’s capabilities. Now, who will come? We all have our concerns about who will come, whether they’ll know the team, and whether they’ll help AEK compete at the top. The team is there, the people are there—we just need to find that one thing that will bring the team back together.”
