Here is what the Croatian coach of PAOK said after the 2-1 loss to NK Lokomotiva Zagreb:

His initial statement:

«It’s important that we have one more week to work. I don’t believe we did anything wrong on a tactical level, but we still need to improve some things there as well. We were lacking in physical condition.

That is the main point we need to improve right now. I have to admit that NK Lokomotiva are a good side. If one fails to play well against such a team, they will encounter problems.

After a defeat, one thinks of changing several things, but that is not the way I like to operate. My main concern is having seven more days to work«.

On his choices and roster:

«We created 5-6 opportunities to score today, but couldn’t convert them into goals. That is our roster. It’s not logical to have players with just 10 days of preparation at their feet. It was my choice, I could have introduced sooner such guys as Mystakidis and Charisis, but I wanted to keep on the pitch also players of quality and experience«.

On the importance of this result:

«This result has nothing to do with my philosophy and what I believe about the two players«.

What he expects of NK Lokomotiva in the second leg:

«I don’t expect anything different. I believe they came close to their maximum quality-wise. We didn’t come even near it. Therefore I am confident that our display in the second leg will be different«.

On the reasons of defeat:

«I could have started with Maduro and Charisis, who were better in terms of physical condition, but I chose Τziolis and Kace instead to add more quality to the squad.

I saw some things we were working on during preseason, but I was expecting my team to be more fresh. Perhaps heat was also an element. In the Netherlands, we were training under 20 degrees and the situation here was quite different«.