APOEL soccer player Daniel Mancini gave an interview to Athletiko.gr.
Regarding his time with the “blue-and-yellows,” he opened up about how he recovered from his shoulder injury and discussed his return to the field.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Argentine winger also spoke more generally about his career, as well as his time in the Greek league with Aris Thessaloniki and Panathinaikos, as well as Ivan Jovanović’s departure from the “Greens.”
Read part of the interview with
Daniel, how are you doing after your injury, and when do you expect to return to competition?
“It’s been a bit tough. It’s been two months since the injury, but now I feel good, thank God. This week I’m following the full training schedule with the team. We have a friendly match coming up, where I’ll be able to play a bit to get back into the swing of things. I believe that after the break for national team duty, I’ll be able to play regularly and be ready.” *The interview took place before the match against Nea Salamina, in which he came on as a substitute.
How did you experience this period, both as a soccer player and as a person?
“For me, it was the worst injury I’ve ever had, because I’d never been sidelined for two months before. You need to keep a clear head and have good people by your side—people who’ll be there for you even when things get tough. The day it happened was very difficult, but I tried to look at it differently—to spend more time with my family and children, and to focus on other things as well. I wanted to find something positive in this situation, outside of soccer. It’s hard to go to the team every day, watch your teammates head out for practice, and have to stay inside. I tried to do things I don’t have time for when I’m constantly playing matches and training. The time flew by. I had the kids, their school, double training sessions, and physical therapy every day. I kept telling myself it wasn’t anything too serious, and that helped me.”
Why didn’t your return to Aris go through this summer?
“I was a free agent, and we tried to make the return happen. However, there were some points we couldn’t agree on, and ultimately the deal fell through. Then I spoke with APOEL and moved forward. I didn’t want to wait any longer; I wanted to start playing.”
Did you want to return?
“Yes, I did. If I hadn’t wanted to, I wouldn’t have even spoken with Karipidis, and I wouldn’t have let them waste their time. I had a great time there; Aris gave me a big opportunity, and I wanted to come back to help however I could. But everything happens for a reason. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Jovanović’s departure came as a shock to all of us”
What was he like as a person and in managing the locker room?
“He had everything under control; he managed and kept track of everything. He was the kind of person where you couldn’t always tell when he was happy and when he wasn’t. But when you spoke with him one-on-one, you felt that he believed in you. He gave you responsibility, and that made you respect him even more. When he gives you the freedom to do things, you have to reciprocate. For me, his management style was very good.”
How did you feel about his departure?
“I was in Argentina for Christmas. I didn’t understand it. We’d finished that season; we were in second place and, overall, things were going well. I didn’t know why it happened. The president, however, is the one who makes the decisions, and I believe Alafouzos did it because he thought it was for the good of the team. We had to move forward with the new coach. You can’t hold back just because you love the previous one. It was certainly a shock for us, though, because the team was doing well, even if there were things that could be improved.”
Akis Mantzios—what kind of coach was he to you?
“A serious coach who gave me many opportunities and believed in me very much. We still talk to this day and have a good relationship.”
