Nielsen: “Kifisia motivates me, so I don’t stop anywhere”

In the person of David Nielsen, Kifisia found the successor to Yiannis Anastasiou in the technical leadership, whose recruitment the team from the northern suburbs announced.

The new coach of the Northern Suburbs team stressed that Kifisia gives him motivation by explaining this He feels somehow Greek all his life.

Nielsen’s interview in detail:

What are your first thoughts after taking over the technical leadership of Kifisia?: “Firstly, I think we still have a lot of work to do. The team has many good players. For me the most important thing is to work on the pitch to get better. That’s what we need. I am very happy to be here. I know I came for one reason: to make sure we improve.

At the moment the team hasn’t collected that many points, but I think there have been several moments throughout the season where Kifisia has been unlucky. This can happen naturally in football, it’s normal. So we have to make sure we perform well on the field. It happened that we have a few extra days (ss: due to the postponement of the 14th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League), so we will use these to work even more.”

How did you decide to take over the technical management of PAE Kifissia? In Denmark the news attracted a lot of attention and was seen as unexpected.

“If anyone knows me, they know this was a very expected decision. I’ve wanted to work in Greece for a long time. I have a lot of love and respect for the people here. I have a great feeling. I think the Stoiximan Super League is a very underrated league in Europe. There are a lot of good players and the games are very competitive. That’s why I came! I feel like I’ve been Greek in some ways my whole life.”

What feeling did you have during the discussions with the President, Mr. Christos Pritsa, and the Technical Director, Mr. Stefanos Kotsoli?

“The first time I spoke to Mr. Stefanos Kotsoli was via video call. It was a very short conversation. After two minutes he sent me a message asking if I could travel to Greece. And so I immediately got on the plane! What Kifissia has achieved in the last few years is fantastic.

I realize that at the moment everyone thinks we are having a bad season because we haven’t picked up many points. But if you look at it another way, Kifisia are in a great phase as they have achieved promotion in two consecutive seasons and are now playing in the Stoiximan Super League. I know how everyone feels!

I recognize that everyone wants everything to go perfectly in every moment. But at the same time, when climbing a mountain, sometimes you have to take a small step back to continue the climb. Now it is the task of all of us to ensure that the regression is very small and provides the impetus for further advancement.

When I spoke to the president, I quickly realized the hard work he has put into the club and how much Kifisia means to him. So I wanted to come to help him.

I made this decision with my heart and soul. I know that in football it is important that the people you work and cooperate with match your character, that they motivate you and believe in you. Stefanos was fantastic in what we discussed and what they have achieved with this team is great.

Now it is important to understand that Kifisia is having a historic season despite everyone saying that the team is not doing well. The path it has taken in recent years is very impressive, it is an inspiration and gives to other teams located in lower categories in the country. That’s what keeps football alive. In my opinion, stories like Kifissia’s come from hard work and the good people in it.

Before the contracts were even signed, you asked to travel to Crete to watch the Betsson Greek Cup game against OFI. Why did you do that?

“When I feel like I’m in something special that motivates me, like now in Kifissia, then I don’t stop anywhere!” I want to see, feel. That’s why it was important for me to be at the game. So it was a natural decision based on my character.

How would you describe the team you would like to see on the pitch?

“We know how important what we do is. I know very well that the Greeks are a people that never give up. They always look forward and develop, regardless of the difficulties and situations they experience. That’s why we have to have the same mental attitude as a team. In football you can lose one game or win another.

But the most important thing is to move forward. And that’s something I want to bring to the team. No matter what it takes, I will get it out of the group. So it’s up to us, through the work we do every week, to bring our quality to the field and develop the competitive style that will set us apart. We have to work hard and fight in every training session. But the most important thing is to become a team that is mentally strong and has a positive charisma.”