On summer preseason training:

«I wanted to be there right from the start, but I was on duty with the Greece national team at the Mediterranean Games. Being with the seniors is a great experience. That’s the dream for a kid who grew up in PAOK Academy and I am happy to live it on a daily basis«.

Regarding when he started to work with the senior side:

«In January 2018, I joined the senior team, called by Mr Lucescu«.

On the transition from grassroots football to the professional stage:

«If one has worked diligently during his academy years, then they are ready to join the senior side. If one listens to their coaches on a daily basis, works 100% and really wants to succeed, they won’t have a problem«.

Whether all this was his dream:

«Yes… Or, rather, it was my goal«.

Regarding the help he got from his U19 coaches:

«First of all, they are huge icons of our club and football in general. They helped me more on a mental level, I believe. They helped me understand what PAOK represents. As all coaches I have had up until now, they also helped me to make it to the senior team«.

Regarding why he chose football and PAOK:

«Football has been my passion every since I was a child. Every day after school, I would go to play ball. I grew up with football. I am a fan of PAOK, that has been the motivation and that’s why I came here«.

Whether the players of the senior side coming from the PAOK Academy are his role models:

«They definitely set the benchmark for us, because they have made the same journey. They also joined the senior team coming from PAOK Academy. They are role models, because it’s very difficult for a kid to make it from the youth sections and stay at the seniors as well. I would say that it’s rather easy to come, but very complicated to stay. And these guys have made it happen«.

Regarding the welcome he got in the senior team:

«Very good! They all treated me very well. No complaints whatsoever«.

Regarding the importance of joining the senior side along with Balogiannis:

«It’s a great feeling. We are more comfortable with each other and spend much time together, as teammates at the academy as well. He is a friend«.

On his objectives:

«My objective is to work on a daily basis and improve constantly. Game by game… Both with the U19s and as much as I can with the seniors –that’s the objective«.

On the fans’ support:

«When I entered the pitch for the Panionios match, it was the best moment of my life. The fans were great. On my first contact with the ball, everyone cheered and it was an extraordinary feeling. Fans are of pivotal importance in every game. They are indeed the “twelfth player” – I have experienced that, both as fan and as player. Their input is important, mostly for the mental boost they provide«.

Regarding the encounter against OFI Crete and coming up against Panagiotis Deligiannidis:

«We have a very good relationship with Panagiotis. I will greet him, he will greet me… From then on, it’s a match like all matches. We focus on it as if it were a final, because our objective is the league title. Just like we do week in week out«.

Regarding his impressions of OFI Crete:

«Rather positive…«.

Regarding the focus of the team ahead of the contest:

«We are focusing more on ourselves, we want to do well in each encounter. Every game depends on us, on our approach, on how we manage every situation that arises«.

Regarding his role model:

«From PAOK, it’s Vieirinha. Globally, in my position, Dani Alves stands out. I like his Brazilian flair, the craziness in him«.