PAOK midfielder Omar El Kaddouri described Razvan Lucescu as the best coach he had in his career in an interview with French media and more specifically in “Footballski”, stressing that Vierinia’s leadership qualities remind him of Hamsik in Napoli and warning Marseille ahead of Thursday’s Conference League game that they’ll soon find that the draw against Dikefalos wasn’t easy.

In detail what the Moroccan said:

On whether the two games with Marseille are the most important games he has given to PAOK:

“No, I won’t say that. There were such important games again. I remember him with Olympiakos the year we won the championship. Then I think of the rematch against Krasnodar, which was at least as important because we could have qualified for the Champions League.” But Thursday’s game against Marseille is on the same level as I mentioned.”

How to approach the first race:

“The team is pretty calm. It’s safe to say we won’t be going into this game as favorites, so we’re a little more relaxed. But the coach is very confident. His goal isn’t to make a good game or win for people.” Getting to know PAOK a little better. “We want to win the Conference League. We know it’s going to be a very difficult game, but in the past we’ve shown that PAOK are capable of great things. I know Marseille and they’re a very good team , but it is not impossible. We will try to do something good “

For the Conference League:

“I would say it’s an exciting event for clubs like PAOK or Bodo Glimt, for example. We’ve had some difficulties in the Europa League in the past. Here we can show who PAOK is in Europe. It’s an event that brings experience can bring.” For clubs like ours and some young players, with this season and what we’ve been able to produce, our next step has to be to do something similar – or better – in the Europa League or even the Champions League, it’s been a long time since a Greek club has shone there more”.

Because what has changed this year in the European course of PAOK:

“Apart from the players, there haven’t been any big changes in my opinion. The team has changed a bit in two years. Then, going back to the game against Krasnodar, we always thought we were cursed in the Champions League. The season We lost everything. We qualified for Russia: we eliminated Besiktas, after Benfica we had a good result in Russia, despite the defeat and the missed penalty, we lacked a bit of luck, we were luckier this season, we needed a little dose in the Home game against Gent “We were lucky because we didn’t play very well. We played defensively and managed to qualify without deserved it this season any more than last. You need a little bit of everything to to achieve success in Europe.”

Whether PAOK can surprise Marseille as an underdog:

“Yes, I think we can bet on that. I’ve been watching the French league a bit and I think we’re very underestimated. But on the one hand, that’s not a problem. I think we can cause headaches in Marseille.” including the game in We have a team that likes these big games, especially this season, so maybe it’s an advantage for us to be underestimated, French clubs don’t know us and many thought we were the easiest draw.” Toumba Stadium, who will be full, will not be so happy and we will show them that it was not an easy draw.”

To change the away goals rule:

“We’re often ruled out because of this rule. I think it’s an advantage for us in this game. Anything is possible, as we saw against Midtjylland, we lost 1-0 there and with the away goals rule we would have been .” locked out. I was never very enthusiastic about this arrangement”.

For the στι Italian style by Razvan Lucescu:

“I think we’re more of an Italian-style team, yes. This can be derogatory for some people because many people find Italian football boring. But tactically we are very strong. Everyone knows what to do. Defensively we.” We’re strong and we’re one of the best defenders in the Conference League. This is our strength. But we also try to produce offensively. In Marseille we know it will be a difficult game but we will try to produce something. “But if we get a little space, we can cause problems for opposing teams.”

For the lead role of Lutsescu in PAOK:

“I think Razvan is the best coach I’ve ever had in my career. Lucescu tries to pay attention to the 25 players. He doesn’t discriminate in training, everyone is treated equally and everyone has a chance. We try to pitch: “We give everything. We have a very good relationship with him, even if he gets very angry sometimes. He sends us a lot of affection and he likes to have that father-son relationship with players, I’ve never had that kind of relationship with a coach.”

For the role of Vierinias in the team:

“Vierinia is the legend of the club. He is the leader but also a role model for the club’s young players. He’s not someone who yells a lot or gets very angry. He’s very calm, something that helps us all.” He’s a leader that reminds me of Hamsik, who I met in Napoli, who’s there for the team and loves the club, he’ll always give his all for him, he’s a player I admire in many ways, his career, his character and everything he’s done: “I’ve been with him for five years, so I know him a little bit better than others. It’s a joy every day to see him.”

For the stable of PAOK:

“You always have to have a certain backbone. Apart from me, Vierinia, Paschalakis, Crespo, Varela and Biseswar are also left from the champion team. We can convey to the newcomers what it means to play for PAOK. You can say anything, what do you want for us, but we are the most successful players at the club. We can convey this winning mentality in this city, where it’s not easy. Here if you win you are the king of the world but if you lose you are the worst “There is one player. We are trying to set an example and show how to be mentally prepared.”

Whether the experience of winning “Finale” will help PAOK:

“Yes, because it looks a bit like a final against Marseille. And finals, we’ve played a lot in recent years. We’re used to winning the last few seasons. But we know what it means to win Plus for us, because in “Marseille, if I’m not mistaken, we’ve only won a few titles. Gentuzi or Kamara, for example, are top players, but they’re young and haven’t won yet. Maybe we can play with that experience.”

On the climate in Thessaloniki before the game against Marseille:

“Since the draw, our thoughts have only been on this game. Everywhere we go we hear about Marseille because this game is something unique for PAOK fans. The 3,000 tickets sold for the Velodrome are sold out, so there is a lot of excitement.” the city. It’s a game with a legendary club, in an equally legendary stadium. We will try to make our fans happy. There are people at the club who live for PAOK and their happiness can depend on us, so we’re trying to do something big.” .