Crespo: «I’m ready to help the team»
Jose Crespo spoke to Novasports to give his insights on the upcoming Super League Interwetten local game against Apollon Smyrnis. Read what the Spanish defender said via paokfc.gr.
On what is key takeaways are from last week’s three games:
«Overall if we look at it, I think we need to improve on a lot of things. We got a win in the game in Copenhagen which was very important for us. It was a game however that the opposition had to play for a large part with 10 players for and this changed the balance. However we got the result we wanted, although in the two games in the league we did not get the results we should have. In the game with Volos we actually ‘lost’ the game that we already had in our hands. Against Olympiacos, the way the game started I thought that we could control the pace of it because we entered the game better than our opponents. But, after the first goal that we conceded, we lost our balance a bit and in the end we did not manage to get what we wanted.»
On how much he has missed playing and how ready he feels to play:
«I missed it so much. I had the injury last month, it was quite difficult for me. Now I’ve been back for a week now, I am training normally with the squad. Starting from Saturday ‘s game, and for the next games, I am ready to help the team build up the necessary match fitness and tempo.»
On how he sees the defensive pairing of Mihailidis and Mihaj, who are getting more playing time because of injuries:
«We have to be a little patient and have a different approach. When the more experienced and older players player, we say ‘why don’t you give the younger players or more inexperienced ones in?’ Then when the younger players play – and they make a mistake – we say ‘why don’t the more experienced guys play?’. Thus, these guys are the future of this team; we have to manage them properly so that they are freer, more comfortable, so that they can show the great aspects of theirt game that they have. «
On the fact that Gate 4 will finally open after a two-and-a-half-year wait:
«It is very important for us to have the support of the fans again, and for the stadium to be full. People have been waiting for over a year-and-a-half to come to the stadium, and to have the stadium full. And so we are very happy that they will be back and I think they will help us.»
On the game with Apollon Smyrnis:
«I don’t think it will be an easy game, we have watched Apollon. After changing their coach they are a better side. In the previous game they won but also in the game they lost, they were the better team on the pitch, and so I think it will be a difficult game as they are a team that is well organized defensively. They are also strong in all areas so we have to be focused throughout the game, and to play our own game to get the victory we need, while at the same time we have to avoid the individual mistakes that have cost the team so far.»