«We need to be smart throughout the match»
Everything that Vladan Ivić said to Novasports TV ahead of the encounter against AEK Athens in the Olympic Stadium, for matchday 5 of the Super League play-offs.
On the play-offs:
«We know how tough the whole procedure is and there are two matches left. We are in the driving seat right now, but we have to fight until the end in order to remain there«.
On whether PAOK will go after a win in the Olympic Stadium or if they will settle for a draw:
«We aim to win in every match. One can’t approach a match by settling for a draw beforehand. At least, I never do so. Me, the players and everyone here at PAOK, we only think about winning every match –and we will keep the same mentality until the end. There is a tough match ahead against a good team. We know each other, we have faced each other several times this season and the fact that we are approaching the season finale makes this match all the more tough. Fatigue has kicked in and the mind struggles to remain focused. These factors affect both us and AEK. As I said however, we are professional and we all need to adjust and give it 100%«.
On whether preparations focus more on the players’ morale right now:
«As we are reaching the end of the season, we work more on the psychological factor. It’s a very important part of the players’ preparation«.
On what he wants to see on the pitch:
«I want to see what I have been mostly seeing this season. My players being lively from minute one, their desire to win, them being smart throughout the game«.
