Lovro Mayer says he is thrilled with his experience at AEK in an interview with media outlets in his home country. The Croatian midfielder talks about his decision to leave Wolfsburg, the decisive phone call from Marko Nikolić, the loss to Shakhtar, and his time with the national team.
Here are his comments in detail on:
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– his first goal and his experience at AEK: “I’m happy. Not just because of the goal, but because of the whole experience I’ve had at AEK. From the start of the season, it was clear to me that I was in an environment where I felt comfortable. I have excellent teammates who accepted me right away and a coach who believes in me. After a shocking season in Germany, I’m finally enjoying soccer again, and I hope that shows. Also, the club’s organization, my teammates, the fantastic atmosphere, the soccer we play, and life in Greece… Everything has come together harmoniously. I don’t feel any pressure, and I can focus entirely on the field.”
-On the loss to Shakhtar: “I’m disappointed with the result; we could have done better. But that’s the level of the Champions League—there are no weak opponents.”
-On his absence from the World Cup: “I don’t know what to say, looking back. I felt both sadness and anger. I had mixed feelings because I felt that, with my performance and the goal against Brazil, I was close to making the World Cup. However, that nightmarish end to the season in Wolfsburg—where we were relegated—obviously cost me, and as a result, I missed out on the World Cup.”
-On the decision to leave Wolfsburg: “I turned the page. I was determined to leave Germany for an environment where I would feel good, where I would be motivated. The AEK coach called me, presented his vision and my role in this project, and in a way, he won me over immediately. I felt that they trusted me, which was extremely important to me, since I knew I couldn’t afford to make a mistake with my choice.”
-On returning to Croatia from Bilic: “I sent him a message when he took over the national team, congratulated him, and told him I’d like to talk. I was interested in his opinion, and his reaction was positive. He told me he thought it was the right decision, and as far as the national team was concerned, it was all up to me. That was enough for me.” I’ve seen some of the headlines, and I have to admit I don’t like them. Of course, no one would be happier than me if I had played in all four games from start to finish, as I don’t know a single player who wouldn’t want that. However, the reality is that I was there the whole time, at every practice, and the mere fact that I’m once again part of this effort fills me with satisfaction. The coach had his own plans and his own ideas. It’s important to me that we got to know his approach and that the coaching staff got to know us. It’s up to me to continue on this path, and I’m sure another call-up will come.”
-Croatia with Bilic on the bench: “Every beginning is difficult, and it takes time to adjust. None of us liked the result against England, but three days later, in Polioud, we showed who we really are. The match should have ended differently—we deserved at least one point—but that’s the nature of top-tier national teams: they punish you for even the slightest mistake. It’s important that the match against England doesn’t be the only thing people remember. Now we have two matches in November, and I hope we’ll achieve our main goal: to remain in the Nations League’s elite division and be among the top teams in the Euro qualifying draw.”
*photo source: KYPE
