AEK is ready to make history and face off against Real Madrid (Nov. 4, 7:45 p.m.) in the 100th match to be played at its new stadium, for Matchday 4 of the Champions League group stage.
At the customary press conference, Marko Nikolić answered reporters’ questions and spoke about the powerhouse his team is set to face, Lazaros Rota’s condition, as well as the unique magic of AEK’s stadium.
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Here is Marko Nikolić’s press conference in full:
“We have a very big game ahead of us tomorrow. Ever since the draw, we’ve all been thinking about this matchup. We’re facing perhaps the greatest team in the world—a team full of stars and led by an amazing coach. It’s our 100th match at our new stadium, and it’s a huge challenge for us to be competitive. We won’t go in naively; we’ll fight hard and be very tough. This stadium has a certain magic, and we need to create that magic through our play and set the stands on fire. However, we must not forget our domestic competitions, because it was through the league that we made it here, and it is through the league that we’ll be able to return here next year. We have a team that’s evolving; we’re constantly improving, step by step. We qualified for the Conference League, won the league title, and reached the Conference League quarterfinals. Even during a difficult period full of challenges, we’ll use this time to show our best side—something we’ll do against Real Madrid as well.”
On the injury situation: “I’ve faced many difficulties in my career. We’ll need all our players throughout the season, and they’ll have to be ready to give their all. Rota will likely be ready for the match against Real Madrid, unlike João Mário, who is unfortunately in the hospital, and I want to wish him a speedy recovery. Strakosha is back and ready to go. We are who we are. We lost a league game after 31 matches. My job is to protect the team and the club. We’re not used to losing, and I hate losing. It would be naive to take it easy against Real Madrid. We’ll have to choose between protecting our reputation and getting the result. I’ll do everything I can to ensure we get a good result. We’ll have to avoid all mistakes and lapses in concentration and, with tremendous energy, set the stands on fire.”
On Jović’s form: “Jović is one of the most important players on our team. He’s contributed immensely with the goals and assists he consistently produces. I’m not going to judge a player based on his form during just a small part of the season. With the back-to-back games we have, you don’t have time to think about how he’s played, since you’re immediately moving on to the next match. What matters is how you’ll perform at the end of the season. To evaluate a player, you have to wait until the season is over. Since he signed with AEK, he’s scored close to 30 goals, and we’re very happy to have him with us.”
On Vitalis’s adjustment: “Vitalis is a really great guy and has adapted very quickly, but what was enough in Hungary isn’t enough here. The same goes for Greece: what’s enough in domestic matches isn’t enough in the Champions League. I’m very happy for Vitalis, and I’m sure that in the future he can be even better and will succeed if he keeps working hard, just as he is now.”
On AEK’s recent negative results:“My players lacked focus and made a few mistakes. They’re athletes who always give their best. The question is how much energy they can bring onto the field. It’s medically impossible to be at 100% every three days. After the match against Panathinaikos, we had a discussion—one that will remain between us—and that’s not going to change.”
On the history of AEK’s matches against Real Madrid: “I’m familiar with AEK’s games against Real Madrid. Every time I hear the team’s anthem, the stadium erupts. But now it’s 2026, and we’re facing a team with the top stars in world soccer, led by a coach who has won it all. We’re dreaming of something we might be able to achieve tomorrow. It’s a dream, but if you believe, anything is possible. This stadium has a magic that can inspire us to accomplish great things on the field. Of course, we’ll respect Real Madrid, but we won’t be afraid of them.”
Here are Filipe Relvas’s comments on behalf of the players in detail:
“Matches like this are very important. We deserve to be here, thanks to what we accomplished last year. We have to show that we’re capable of competing against teams like this. It’s an opportunity to showcase our quality, but of course we must also show the necessary respect. We have to fight until the very end and bring all our toughness onto the field.
Mourinho is a soccer legend, but we also have an exceptional team; we can play hard and, with the support of our amazing fans, give it our all. We need to enjoy the match and show our character on the field.
We’re not in our best form right now—we’ve had a few consecutive losses—but that’s just how soccer goes; we can’t change the past. We have confidence in the coach and the team staff, who are always by our side, and I believe we can be competitive against Real Madrid.”
*photo source: AP
