Regrouping for the cup
It was a bad day at the office. One of those when everything that can go wrong did go wrong. PAOK dropped two previous points in the team’s bid to retain it’s Super League crown. Fernando Varela also limped off injured, while both Ingi Ingason and Douglas Augusto face suspensions after picking up yellow cards. It’s time to dig in and work hard.
Because now, it’s time for the Greek Cup tie against Olympiacos. A different competitions, with different circumstances and a different challenge. And it’s a demanding one. To gain the upper hand in the two-legged semi-final tie with a win and a good performance to change the recent negativity ahead of the Play Offs.
Everyone in the PAOK camp must now answer the call to lift the club and produce the desired reaction in order to take the first step towards another cup final. Work began in earnest on Monday (02.03) morning in Nea Mesimvria.
Those players who were included in the starting XI at Pigadia followed a recovery and recuperation training regime, while the rest of the group worked out on the practice pitches on ball circulation and build-up play through various exercises.
Fernando Varela will undergo an MRI scan on Tuesday (03.03) to evaluate the severity of his thigh injury. Dimitris Pelkas, who was rested at Xanthi as a precaution, training normally but his participation in the semi-final at the Toumba will be decided after Tuesday’s training session.
PAOK will train on Tuesday (03.03) at 15:30 in Nea Mesimvria.
