«Be present on Sunday»
Shortly before their first home encounter for 2016, Igor Tudor spoke to Novasports TV about the PAS Giannina match and the recent match with AEL Kalloni. Here is what the Croatian coach said:
On the Greek Cup encounter against AEL Kalloni:
«My opinion is that we shouldn’t have lost at Mytilini. We prevailed throughout the game, but you know that details can be decisive in football. Our rivals scored twice, a set piece and a counterattack, while we were not good in the last 20-25 metres from their goal. We lacked creativity. We dominate our games but we need to become more dangerous. That should be the main focus of our work».
On whether his team is progressing:
«It was our first loss after 30-40 days… It’s not the end of the world. If you want to make an issue out of it, let’s do it. It is my understanding that at PAOK we like to make issues out of things and say that one lost battle decides the whole war. We have a game on Sunday and it’s our opportunity to show that we are here. It’s not the end of the world».
On the injured players:
«Rodrigues still needs 7-10 days. Costa and Glykos are slowly returning to normal training. It’s good to welcome back the players from injury. Now we need to work hard. There are many games still in the season and everybody will get their opportunities».
On the first-round encounter against PAS Giannina:
«It was a very weird match –I remember it well. It’s unbelievable that we conceded three goals. It is one of the weirdest encounters of the season so far. We didn’t deserve to lose, but they scored three times. That’s football. I believe that PAS Giannina perform better in their home ground. We are not focusing on against who we play. Either against PAS Giannina or Panathinaikos or Olympiacos, we can defeat everybody or lose to everybody. That is not good».
On the kick-off time:
«It that were an issue, we shouldn’t be here. Kick-off time makes no difference».
