Panagiotis Glykos returned to the starting line-up with a solid display and then spoke to media representatives:

«We tried to create danger from minute one. We knew that we were up against a good, attack-minded side. We weren’t effective in our finishing, lacked concentration and failed to score. But I don’t think that we have a scoring problem in general. I believe that draw was a fair result tonight. I am confident we can win in Russia. We have to focus on our next game and prepare accordingly. I tried to do my job as best as I could, given the opportunity to play. I am happy that we kept a clean sheet –it’s important in this type of games. In football, a player always must prove he is up to the task. It’s been already one-and-a-half year since the World Cup and football changes. One needs to remain strong, look ahead and prove their worth. I gave it my best shot tonight«.

Stelios Malezas also was a newcomer in the starting line-up. He stressed that, if PAOK want to achieve more, they have to improve:

«We wanted to win in our home ground, because we need the points to qualify. We didn’t make it and earned just one point. Making an assessment of all 90 minutes, we didn’t play as we should have. We need to improve in upcoming games, in order to gain something more. There are still three matches ahead, we have three points and Krasnodar have four. If we didn’t want to qualify, we wouldn’t play at all. We have to negotiate all games and I believe that we have the roster to handle it. It’s tough for guys who have been inactive for long, to suddenly get in the team and help out«.

Giannis Skondras expressed his optimism regarding qualification:

«We knew we were up against a good team. It was important to keep a clean sheet. We have quality players upfront and we believed we would eventually score. We wasted some chances, but we keep on. We played good football in some patches of the match and, had we been a bit luckier, we would have won the tie. We wanted to keep a clean sheet, we were not threatened but didn’t back that up with a goal of our own. Anything can happen in football and a player must be ready at all times to help out. All players had a good performance –some hadn’t played for a while. All players, those who play and those on the bench, aim to help PAOK to the top. We can clinch qualification. We were rarely threatened today by a quality attack. If we don’t concede in Russia and if we get luckier, we may score a winning goal. I lack match rhythm, but I work in trainings, so that I can be in the best possible form when the coach turns to me. All players are professionals«.

Garry Rodrigues engaged in many duels and ran a lot on Thursday. He spoke about the crucial game in Russia:

«PAOK played to win, but we didn’t get to score. The Russians are just one point ahead of us in the standing, so, if we can win the next game and then Qäbälä at home, we will qualify. We will have our fate in our hands. We didn’t make it today. We are a quality side, but today our finishing left much to be desired. We have to deal with that. Hopefully we will score in upcoming encounters. Rotation is necessary. I also played in a different position today. We have 18 players ready to fight«.

As for Dimitar Berbatov, he spoke to Bulgarian media about Sunday’s tie against Panathinaikos:

«It was quite a physical match to be honest. We wanted to win, but failed to achieve it. Our only focus now is the match against Panathinaikos. It’s a high-profile game we want to win so that we can return to positive results. Hopefully we can make it. I want to score in Toumba Stadium and celebrate with our fans. I have already scored twice away from home and one of those goals was a winner. I won’t mind scoring all my goals away, if that means clinching victories. I hope I will score against Panathinaikos as well«.