Angelos Anastasiadis was especially careful of his phrasing during the press conference, but his candour was once again disarming: “We couldn’t play in a different way. We were watching and our rivals played football. I am very happy and I will stop here. I told you back in the summer that we will have to prevail over the referees as well. We did that today and the Holy Virgin also helped us. I am very satisfied with the players’ effort. We had two bad away results and we told each other that we should win and remain at the top, despite the obstacles we knew that we would come up against. We scored, wasted chances, had a shot on woodwork and I am not certain if we should have been awarded a penalty as well. We had many problems, our rivals were fitter than us. All our rivals enjoy one day more rest than we. I don’t know how that is possible, but it’s a fact. Cautions keep accumulating, fatigue as well, but the Holy Virgin helped us and we are grateful. Merry Christmas and God bless you all”.

“I will not speak about the referee, it’s forbidden. I will not play anyone’s game. When one knows that they are coming to get him, they shouldn’t step forward to get killed. I begged the Holy Virgin to hand PAOK the league title, to give us courage and strength, as the fans are getting restless. We shouldn’t get in front of the gun. No matter how much you pressure me, I will not do it. I am 61 years old, I am playing football since the age of 12, I have seen too much but I have never seen something like this. I am here to deal with it”.

“Taking into account the roster we started the season with, you understand why we should thank the Holy Virgin for having made it this far. I trust in my team, my players and the Holy Virgin”.