Garry Rodrigues, who gave PAOK the lead, was very happy and spoke about the importance of qualifying to the next round:

I am very happy for our last two results in the group stage. Qualifying was very important for the team and the club and I am very happy. I admit we were on a streak of bad results, but today we were playing at home and it was our match to win. We had the proper mentality and got the desired result. I have no preference. Let us see first who will be our rivals«.

Dimitris Pelkas , who also got on the scorers’ sheet, spoke about the team’s determination to win the match and also referred to his first goal of the season:

We wanted this game so much. It was good that we got to stay all together these last days and see what it takes to turn the situation around. Today we also had luck on our side, something we lacked in previous games. I am happy for my goal, but most of all for the team doing their duty and qualifying. It was very important for the team and all of us«.

PAOK skipper Stefanos Athanasiadis spoke about the situation within the team:

I am back at my coach’s disposal after recovering. He chose me for his line-up and everybody who got to play gave 100% for this victory and qualification. We bonded more these days we spent at the hotel together. We were lacking this unity. Hopefully we can continue like that. A few days ago, our fans were booing us, but now they saw a team playing like a family –and that’s the best. Our fans stand by the team in our bright days and rough patches. By their reaction, we understand they believe in the team, that they also see something in us. If they didn’t believe in us, they wouldn’t react like this«.

European matches are different, everybody is more motivated. We encountered space on the pitch and took advantage of it. We will wait to find out our next rivals in the competition. We will prepare in order to make the step beyond when the time comes«.