On who is responsible for the defeat and on the team’s bad mentality after taking the lead:

«The responsibility is mine, the players’s, the club’s. We share the responsibility, we are all to blame. Seldom do I feel so disappointed and angry as I do today. Yesterday, before training, we had a tough meeting where we spoke about mentality. We also had an intense talk about it during lunch and before the team left for the stadium. We talked again and again about mentality, we said that we shouldn’t get affected by what happened on Wednesday, we shouldn’t be looking for excuses«.

On his explanation for the defeat:

«I can’t explain why that happened today. After three good consecutive performances with the same tactics and more or less the same players, we should have had the right mentality and positive mood. We should have performed well. I can’t explain our display today. Leaving mentality aside, we were playing against a low-ranked team and the referee was good. And we ended up losing. This defeat upsets me very much. When we return to Thessaloniki, the whole team will stay at the hotel, nobody goes home. What happened today is unacceptable, I can’t accept it. I had told my players that, if we are not 100% focused, we could even lose today«.

On him failing to change the players’ mentality and if he is contemplating resignation:

«Resign? Why should I resign according to you? When I started this press conference, I told you that I have my own share of responsibility, so do the players and even the club. Everyone is to blame. You might have a personal interest to want such a change. We need to see if those who played today could give something more compared to what they gave on the pitch. Today it’s the coach’s fault? The same one who was great against Panathinaikos and Olympiacos? That’s wrong. It’s also wrong to say that the players weren’t good. But we need to see how these players can line up more good displays. Let me add something else. Sometimes it’s easier to face stronger teams, because you can prepare better and apply the right tactics. When facing a weaker opponent, it’s us who have the initiative, must create plays, break through tight defences. It’s harder«.

On the reasons that led to defeat in Komotini:

«This is PAOK, these are the players, this is the coach. I didn’t come here to shift the weight of responsibility, but to tell things as they stand. Pelkas and Mystakidis came in the summer as second- or even third-string players of the roster and today they were in the starting line-up. If some believe themselves to be Ideye or Fortounis and being able to turn a match around, they are wrong. They may reach that level and they have already progressed a lot, but they are not there yet«.

On why PAOK have a hard time defeating teams of significantly smaller budget:

«First of all, I would like to ask you to print my entire press conference and not just scattered quotes that could be misconstrued out of context, . Regarding the club’s budget, I have already stated my opinion. It’s not my place or problem if someone has money to spend and another one proves better with less money. That can happen and it doesn’t always prove important. That’s why I said that we are a team and we stick together through thick and thin. You say that PAOK don’t play well and that’s the coach’s fault. Let me give you an example. Charisis is a good player and I like him very much. Today, in the first half, he missed seven of nine passes. Whose fault is that? Is it the team’s, the coach’s or does it just show that the player had a bad day at work? You talk about the budget. I am not an English-style manager who is responsible for everything and even controls the budget. When I become such a manager, then we’ll talk. But I am not responsible for it«.

On the reason of his optimism for a first-place finish in the play-offs:

«With seven days to prepare a game, we can work on tactics, mentality, strength –and this team can face any opponent. With back-to-back games every 3-4 days, the situation differs. I am not looking for excuses. In this PAOK team, Rodrigues, Mak and Cimirot are important players and we miss them a lot. That’s the truth, you need to understand it. The pitch reflects our work, everything is evident there, answers are provided there. So, one can either understand, or insist on their opinion, or continue talking nonsense«.

«Let me add something else. I believe that all of you, covering PAOK’s activity, have overestimated the role of a coach. You believe that a coach has a magic wand and can transform some players. That’s impossible, you need to realize that«.

With the injuries, the absences and the possible ban, does it cross his mind that PAOK might not make it to the play-offs?

«We’ll see. There are five games left. We’ll see what happens«.

On how he feels after such a performance, taking into account that Mr. Savvidis expressed his support to the team on the eve of the encounter:

«I feel very bad«.