Almeida: “It’s boring to play for a draw, we came here to win”

AEK meets Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena and aims to stay in the Conference League with a draw. But Matias Almeida made it clear in every tone that the Union had once again come to play their game and with the aim of winning, because no contract and no opponent would change their mentality.

What Matias Almeida said in detail at the press conference: About the group of death that kept AEK alive for the sequel and how he feels about it: “I’ve thought a lot and I’m still thinking. I have another day to think. I believe the group I coach is competitive. He has shown an appetite that he wants to play football. Of course we wanted to go into tomorrow’s game with more points, but it’s important that we have a chance to continue.

Let’s take a step to another event. I trust the players who will be available tomorrow. I can say that I have high expectations for tomorrow’s game. We are facing a great opponent who has changed the coach and the way they play. Positive results were achieved. What we will try to do tomorrow is have fun and enjoy football‘.

Whether it will change the mentality of the team based on the draw that suits the team: “Our mentality is always the same. We won’t depend on a game as to whether we go on or not. We always talk about football. No outcome will change the way we think and believe“.

About the way Ajax plays and what stands out: “They are two different groups. Because with the change of coach, every coach prepares the team differently. Football players change positions. What I always tell my players is how the opponent plays.

Respect all opponents. The most important thing is what my footballers will be like. If they are good we will enjoy a nice game. The opponent has good young footballers. We have good, slightly more experienced ones. We are all in the mood to continue in Europe. It will be a beautiful game, we are in one of the temples of football.

The last time I came here was in 2000. I saw pictures of the players passing through this club. It makes me happy to be in a stadium like this. I can say that it makes me happy to be in a stadium like this. The soccer players I coach show me confidence“.

Whether seeing pictures of Ajax players motivates or “discourages” them.: “Football players know how to deal with it. Our players have their own story. The atmosphere that you can experience at the AEK Stadium is unique. I’m sad because the children are still very small and when they actually see a photo of Van Basten, I think they have seen him because he is one of the best in the world.

This club has achieved something special in world football. He achieved great things in the academies. That’s why they have produced so many players and will produce so many more. Looking at these photos and moments motivates, but does not dampen certain moods. There is recognition for the club and the good football it played“.

About AEK having the cushion of a draw and how much this is affecting the team due to the absences: “We prepared this game for the counterattack, we’ll wait and see (laughs). We came here to play for victory. It is not our intention to play to get the draw, that would be detrimental to us. If I planned a game with a draw, I wouldn’t believe my players. It is very boring to play a game for the draw.

It’s bad for a football player if the coach tells him to wait, even if he gets a chance. I didn’t see any kids playing for the draw. I want footballers to have that mentality. Go out and have fun. We came to play our game as we always do and we won’t think about the draw“.

For what AEK has to have to qualify: “If I had to change something, I wouldn’t change anything. We played a big game. We had the phase with Jonson in the last minute. We didn’t just play well because of that, we played well throughout the game. After the game we talked and said that we didn’t convert the phases we created into goals.

I hope and wish that tomorrow’s game will be similar, but we will score goals in our phases. We have the appetite and will to keep going. We worked and spent time organizing. We have a great appetite to continue in Europe“.