The undisputed star of the evening Róbert Mak focused on the importance of team success and also spoke about the tough encounter ahead against SKODA Xanthi:

«I am happy for the hat-trick, but even more for the victory. It’s important that we won 5-0. It’s a good result, we weren’t expecting it. We need however to be sober in Denmark as well. We have secured our qualification and now must focus on the encounter against Xanthi. I know how PAOK fans are, I experienced it last season as well. I am glad we made them happy«.

Dimitris Pelkas , who limped out of the encounter, said:

«We enjoyed it thoroughly. I want to thank the fans for their positive vibes. We played as we should, pressed a lot, had many chances and shots on woodwork. We are very happy. The goal was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I was ecstatic to score it. It’s important to be all but in the group stage and to be a team. A player’s main aspiration is to join his national team. I am trying to improve with each match and give it all on the pitch. I will do an MRI tomorrow. We’ll see«.

Garry Rodrigues had a dream debut for PAOK, accompanying his first Toumba match with a goal and a consummate performance. After the final whistle he said:

«I am very happy to score. We thank the fans. Nothing can be taken for granted in football and we need to be focused in the away match as well«.

Upon his return to Toumba Stadium, Stelios Malezas celebrated a great victory. The Greek defender spoke about the match, PAOK fans and the upcoming encounter against Xanthi next Sunday:

«It was important to win and make a huge step. We shouldn’t think the tie is over, because that happens only after the second leg is played. We should now focus on the league encounter against SKODA Xanthi. Everybody is aware of PAOK’s dynamics. Seeing Toumba vibrate like this was not a first for me. Our main concern is to keep a clean sheet. We had great spells in our games, but also let Brøndby IF have 1-2 chances to score –we need to improve on that. Our system was a bit weird for me at first, but when focused one needs to forget everything and just do the job at hand«.

As for Robin Olsen, who was practically a spectator of the encounter and just had to intervene a few times, he said the following:

«We can’t celebrate qualification just yet. There is a second leg we need to play and we must stay focused in Denmark as well. I wanted to enjoy the sight of the fans, but I had to focus on the game. I was listening to them and enjoyed it when we scored. We are working a lot in trainings and that is evident on the pitch. I believe we are up for a very good season«.