Omar El Kaddouri spoke about the atmosphere in Thessaloniki and underlined the importance of the game in the press conference ahead of the game between PAOK and Marseille on Thursday (14/4).
Kantouri was the footballer who introduced PAOK’s players to Wednesday’s (13/4) press conference ahead of Thursday’s (14/4) game, 22:00 COSMOTE SPORTS 2, LIVE from Sportish) against Marseille.
The Thessaloniki team’s scorer in the Velontrom game spoke about a historic game, referred to the atmosphere that prevails in the co-capital and how PAOK’s friends are waiting for Thursday’s game.
“After the game I spoke to several of my friends, my brothers were there and I was happy because they came to see me, they came to see me in Ghent but I hadn’t seen them because I had coronavirus, I told them to be in Toumba, but unfortunately they can’t.”
Do you think this event is going well for you? Is the goal against Marseille the most important thing you’ve achieved?
“No, I don’t think the conference is more important to me. All the players are here and they have experience. It’s been a difficult season for me, I’ve had a few injuries. We’ve crossed the finish line, but I’ll do my best. ” everything.”
Can you tell us something about the atmosphere that reigns in Thessaloniki and what it gives your players?
“It’s a warm atmosphere. There are people who live for this team, not only for football but also for other sports. PAOK has done a lot for the city and it means a lot. People love it in a way that I’ve never seen it anywhere else. “This is going to be a historic game.”
Many consider tomorrow’s game to be a historic game. But the year doesn’t end here, do you think PAOK can drain you or not?
“I don’t think so because many players of this team have suffered some defeats in the past, for example in games like Casnodar, Benfica, but even if the team fell, they would rise. To go further is incredible. There is a possibility that we’re not going to pass, but I don’t think how the team will get depressed.
He’ll have done something important anyway. If we pass, it will be a bust. To go ahead and play in the semi-finals with a team from the top division will be great. “Even if the team doesn’t fit, they have the potential to get up.”
In the first game Marseille didn’t measure PAOK correctly or was PAOK more scared of Marseille than it should have been?
“We knew Marseille are a strong team with incredible players. In the first game we weren’t strong in the first half, in the second we had to open up and play like we know it.” Then we changed our mindset and we changed our game.”
You have acquaintances in Marseille, Arit, Milik. Have you talked to them, did they tell you anything about PAOK?
“It was only after the game that I spoke to Arit for a while. They are two great players, they are my friends, but we didn’t speak before the games between the two teams.”
What do you think of Arit?
“He’s a great player. I’m a team-mate with him in the national team. He has quality, I think he’s one of the best players Marseille have at the moment.”
