AEK faces a major challenge on Wednesday night (August 26, 10:00 p.m.) a major challenge at Allwyn Arena, as following the 0-0 draw in Bulgaria, they need a win over Levski Sofia to advance to the Champions League group stage.
At the press conference ahead of tomorrow’s big match, Marko Nikolić emphasized, among other things, that it would be… crazy anyone who would have said a year ago that AEK would be just one match away from the biggest club competition, while noting that it’s a special game and he’s fully committed to it.
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Here’s what Marko Nikolić said at the press conference:
“We have a very important game ahead of us to advance to the League Phase. AEK has come a long way if you consider where we were a year ago. And if someone had told us we’d be one match away from the Champions League—and that it would be at home—we’d have said, ‘Are you crazy?’ But we’re here thanks to our dedication and sacrifices. Tomorrow will be a celebration of soccer. We’ll enjoy it, and we’ll be competitive. We’re facing an exceptional team. There’s no way we won’t show up prepared. We know each other well; we’ve prepared even better, and we respect our opponent. We won’t make any mistakes. It’ll be a high-intensity game; we’ll enjoy the atmosphere and take it one step at a time to secure the win. I’m always optimistic; we have great respect for our opponent and confidence in our team.”
On how he’s mentally prepared for the match: “It’s a game like any other. Eleven against eleven. That’s it. Sometimes things go beyond just soccer. But it’s just a match. We have the opportunity to play such an important game at home. I’m looking forward to a wonderful evening, and I’m hoping for a positive result. Let’s take it one play at a time, one minute at a time. The first few minutes are the most important, and then the ones that follow. That’s the best approach for everyone.”
On AEK’s roster, which is built for a championship run, and the team’s momentum: “I’m fully focused on tomorrow’s match. We’re going in for tomorrow’s game. We have an important home game. There will be others later in the season. Tomorrow’s match is special, and I want us to stay focused on it. All the derbies in the Greek league or in Europe give the players a boost and energy. Big matches boost confidence and momentum. They help a lot if you do well.”
On whether AEK will be better prepared to knock Levski out of the running: “We played at their stadium, under different conditions. That’s a positive for us. But we have to approach the match one phase at a time, one play at a time. We’re up against a serious opponent—a tough team to beat. We need to find a way to keep them from playing as consistently as they usually do. I don’t want to analyze the first game—it’s in the past. I’m focused on tomorrow’s match, and I think we can capitalize on our strengths and neutralize theirs.”
Thomas Strakosa spoke on behalf of the players:
On whether the result could turn the season around: “It’s the most important match of the season; it’s every player’s dream to play in the Champions League, and just like the fans, we’re looking forward to it—we want to put our best foot forward. I believe in my team; we’ve trained very well. I hope it ends happily like last year—we deserve it, both for what we achieved last year and for what the club has been through over the past two years.”
On his performance last year with Anderlecht and whether he feels pressure this year: “There’s always a certain amount of pressure and anxiety because we’re playing at the highest level; we have to prove ourselves on the field. It’ll be harder than last year—we have to give it our all.”
On the atmosphere in the locker room: “Anticipation. That’s the hardest part. We’re waiting for the game to start. Once you step onto the field, the anxiety usually eases up. We’re all ready, and it’s up to us to prove that we want it more.”
