Almeida: “Let’s not desperately hope for a goal and let’s not let the game become a thriller because we will die of grief.”

AEK meet Antwerp at the OPAP Arena and aim to come back from a 1-0 deficit in the first leg to qualify for the Champions League groups. At the press conference ahead of tomorrow’s game, Matias Almeida emphasized that his players need to be patient and not desperate for the goal.

Finally, he had a sense of humor since it would be ideal to avoid developing a thriller so as not to get heart problems while talking very well about the doubles of Belgium.

What Matias Almeida said in detail at the press conference: How he sees tomorrow’s game: “First of all, good evening. Tomorrow’s game is a Champions League group stage game. We played a few games in the Cup and in the European Cup. The mentality we have is the same whether it’s a final or a qualifier and we’re going to stick with it“.

About what AEK should do in the rematch: “It’s hard to describe it in two words. We’re at a disadvantage today against a team whose weapon is counterattacking with the speed they have. We can’t go into the game desperate and lose our positions on the field, we have to be patient.

We play well, at some point we have to turn our chances into goals. Let’s continue on the same path we took. A few days ago we celebrated a move as we came close to the Europa League. Our dream stays alive and we will do everything for it. With the support of our employees, we will achieve our goal“.

When he fears that the team will fall short of the score in all official games and what he thinks is to blame: “Sometimes there are situations that we can avoid and others that the opponent creates. I think the team used the same system they used to win the double in the games we played. I really appreciate it when I don’t see anyone relaxing at every game. The question has an answer.

Because we have to make an extra effort because of our behavior on the pitch. In soccer, you can make a stage and score a goal, or create 30 chances and not score, like in the previous game. I think when you start thinking things aren’t going well, they swell. I focus on my own work.

I’ve been here for a year, I know you all and I don’t want to generalize but I’ve seen some of you look me in the eye when we win and when we lose they don’t. Do not look at me. We will continue on the same path, with the same intensity, with the same love. We’re in football to be able to benefit from it and the players know very well that the day I judge everything by the result I won’t be there anymore.

I believe in work, I believe we can change that, I believe we will be competitive and I want to see more positives. When you see the negative, you attract the negative. Often we see who is positive and who is negative“.

For the tactics he expects from Antwerp: “I don’t know, I wish I had. We’re going to face a great team. A team that could score and then we tried to control the game. And a team that did very well with ten players. We’ve had great success with several players in their area.

From what I’ve seen in previous games, that doesn’t match their gameplay. We should make a very good game, with wit, intelligence and passion. We will do that. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either. At some point in the final we were down to ten players and we scored two goals. Antwerp has speed and plays a lot with vertical passes. We can do it, we will definitely try“.

For the message he wants to send to the world: “My message is the same as I always say. We owe them a big thank you for the extra player. We won a league and a cup together and we will continue together. When I saw the stadium I spoke about the energy this place has. Some may think that the energy is draining.

The energy needs to be the same as the first day to stand out from the rest. We have shown that we are different fighters on many fronts. We have to keep going like this, no one confuses the other. There is a competitive team that wears and honors this jersey.

There will be times when he plays well, other times very well, other times average, and other times badly. For a year now, the team has shown love and respect for the jersey they wear. When we are united, the world gives us additional strength“.

Whether he imagines the development of the game as a thriller like Dinamo Zagreb: “I hope it doesn’t happen because in the end we’re all going to die of hearts. Of course, if we pass, it will help us endure. We hope that with calm we can get a draw first and have a normal game. We must be calm. Desperation can backfire“.

That AEK will not be at a disadvantage due to the reduced training and game schedule compared to the pre-game: “We didn’t use any excuses or try to get anything done in our favour. We have to work to get a good result and we will fight for it by all means“.