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| Thursday, 10 September 2009 23:32 |
Fernando Santos explains plan for PAOKCoach urges patience in title quest As the Greek league prepares to resume play after the international break, Fernando Santos’ PAOK are aiming to build on their opening day victory. However, the Portuguese is looking much further ahead when setting his targets for the club.
PAOK, who surprised many to finish second behind champions Olympiakos last season, beat Levadiakos 3-0 last month in their first match of the new campaign. Expectations are high at the Toumba Stadium, but the former Benfica boss is urging the team’s support to focus on his long-term strategy for the side. “When I took over two years ago, the president told me that the goal is to balance the potential stemming from the team’s supporters to the way the team performs and achieves on the pitch,” Santos explained. “Last season was the first in years that our supporters believed that the team can realistically aim high. "We have to search many years back to find the team in 2nd place and so close to the top. That doesn’t mean that we have reached our final goal. One thing is the competitive team that we built last year and another thing is the great team we want to build from now on. There is a distance we need to cover. "Great teams are created either the fast way (with a lot of money), or in time which is our case. Talking about time, we are not meaning one or two years, but more. We have to keep the positive elements of last year’s team, organisation, fighting spirit, down to earth and add some elements in our play. We are absolutely convinced that this is will in the end balance the dynamic that our history and our supporters give us with the way we perform in the field. "I understand that it is tough for the fans to understand that, since the passion and the thirst for a title are overwhelming, however I am sure people know that I always talk the truth and never ‘sell dreams‘. The dream of a title is something that we all share and we will all try our best to realize that dream. “If I didn’t believe in this I wouldn’t be here today. I would have left after last year’s success and would have accepted the rich contracts offered to me. I didn’t do it respecting our team’s supporters, my dream of creating a truly great team, and also because of my exceptional relation with president.” Santos refutes 'conservative' image Add your comment |
