Savvas Giombanoglou counts down the days until the Marseille game and writes about PAOK’s agreement with Vierinias, who will remain ‘big leader’ for the rest of the year.
For PAOK, the week that has just begun is one of the most important in its history. On Thursday evening (April 14, 10:00 p.m., COSMOTE SPORT 2 HD and LIVE by Sportish) Dikefalos will play his most important game in European competition and try to qualify for the 4th Conference League. For Lucescu and his players, Marseille’s exclusion will be a big sign and if they succeed, they will have another story to tell their children and grandchildren…
Marseille remain favorites to qualify after winning the first game 2-1. Omar El Kaddouri’s goal would have been more important if the away goal was still valid. In such a situation, PAOK would have gone out of the tournament with a 2-1 win over Midtjylland in Toumba, followed by a 1-0 win over them in Denmark.
He won in Toumba with his wits
PAOK didn’t play a game for the championship and thus had the opportunity to concentrate fully on Thursday’s game. Unlike the French, who played with Montpellier without much effort. Marseille, without the influential Dimitri Paget, managed to clear the game within 20 minutes.
It took that long to score 2 goals in an equal number of finals at opponent’s house. The first after an excellent combination in the 9th minute when Dieng failed to score in Toumba and the second in the 19th minute when the Senegalese won a penalty executed by Uder.
It is certain that Razvan Lucescu, following the game in Marseille, drew even more conclusions that he will find useful on how to deal with the Massalos. Montpellier came in boldly, pushing up and creating chances, but the way they played probably favored Sampaoli’s side, who scored two goals in two stages and easily took the lead.
The Argentina coach used Madanda in a crucial league game for the first time since November to give them another game in view of Toumba. Sampaoli lost Chaleta Tsar, who was unwell in warm-up, used all three penalties for Thursday’s game (Gerson, Kamara and Dieng), rested Paget (substitution in the 60′), Kolasinac and Lirola (only used them for 10th minute). ‘). ), showing that his thoughts were with PAOK.
The right to dream and how it can come true
The fact that Dikefalos won the right to dream of the first qualifier in their history with their second-half performance at Velontrom in the semifinals is a foundation upon which they must build their entire preparation.
In addition, it has forced the French to rethink, shaken their self-confidence and created relative uncertainty, since the qualification they probably take for granted is no longer so secure.
Marseille sometimes works like a well-tuned machine and without “choking” the opponent manages to hit them hard, as happened against Montpellier on Sunday night.
But if you find a way to spoil their game, you can easily “spoil” their sanity as well. This is where PAOK should strike on Thursday… To feel as insecure as possible and as unconfident as possible about the final result.
In order to achieve this, Razvan Lucescu’s players have to go into the game fully focused, with confidence in their own plan and, above all, with a clear head. That’s why nothing should happen outside of the four field lines that could disorient them in the slightest.
Whether Marseille fans finally come to Toumba or not, the behavior of the PAOK fans should have only one purpose: to inspire the Romania coach and his players to realize their chances for a historic overtake.
And even if they don’t succeed, reward them for this year’s beautiful European course and prepare them for the next one.
The “Great Leader” continues next year
In the break between the two games against Marseille, the continuation of Vierinias’ presence in the team was confirmed for another year. Jose Boto confirmed that there is an agreement between PAOK and their leader and that only the signatures remain.
No one has ever doubted the Portuguese’s leadership and the impact the Portuguese has on his team. You can’t talk about its competitiveness either. The “flare” in the match against Midtjyl manages to convince even the most skeptical that it remains of incredible quality.
Doubts about his resilience were allayed in the game against Gent in Belgium. The image of him with his face covered in blood, the fact that he fought on with his head bruised, showed that he still had the…flame inside him. And as long as he has it, no one can take away his right to fight. The good thing is that he is aware of his limitations and knows them.
The problem is that PAOK have to find ways to support him next year. How will he have the solutions so that he can manage him, so that he can benefit from his valuable presence in the dressing rooms and on the pitch, while at the same time protecting him… keeping him active but also energetic. And the only way is to have the footballer ready to succeed him.
What is important is that the flag of this team stays on the net for at least another year and PAOK only benefits from this decision.
