This is the gazetta article in question:
ΕΠΟ: Ψάχνει προπονητή για την Εθνική και στο εξωτερικό, εξελίξεις με το τεχνικό επιτελείο και τον Σωκράτη
I find it rich that an organization--in which three of its last four presidents have been found guilty of running a money laundering scam--should be in any position to lecture the captain of the team for supposedly putting his own interests ahead of what's best for the team.
Let's make it clear that Sokratis bleeds blue and white. And not for a minute should it be believed that Sokratis threatened the ultimatum that Anastasiadis be fired or that he, Sokratis, would walk off the team. Perhaps Manolas may have spoken rashly, but Sokratis would have done no such thing. Rather, he had demanded the EPO perform their duties to the same level of expectation that is held of himself or anyone else. He spoke with candor and honesty after a defeat that has dealt Greece a major blow to the team's qualification prospects. Whether one agrees with the very public manner in which he made his statements or not, he rightly demanded that changes be made. And fault lies with Grammenos for having avoided the players at the team hotel, which would have given them a chance to interact with him about their concerns, and also in Grammeno's declaration before the game that Anastasiadis would be guaranteed his job, regardless of the result against Armenia. Far from Sokratis putting himself above the team, he acted as a captain, speaking for the team at a time when the president was clearly not involved enough in discussing with the players the glaring issues they were having with the coach. Grammenos and the EPO have shown too little care and interest in the national side. They have to do a better job. This is a big chunk of the problem and this is why Sokratis rightly spoke out.
Also, I think it is painfully obvious that there is a problem with the NT primarily due to the influence held by AEK and PAOK, and to a certain extent OSFP and even PAO. This is why the likes of Grammenos even hold a job. I believe these clubs have done incredible harm to the NT and the Greek league itself. Savvidis and Melissanidis in particular have to stop acting like babies and act in the best interest of the NT, as well as the league. For years their selfish interests has torn Greek football apart. I think Alafouzos' selfish interest has cost his own club more than anything. PAO, as a result, has lost a lot of their former influence over the National teams beyond the youth levels. OSFP have not helped matters either, especially as it relates to Greece's current predicament, having to play at the OAKA instead of the Karaiskakis. But make no mistake, the manner in which clubs in Greece are run, having put their own self-interests above those of the NT, is what has cost Greek football the most. At a certain point these clubs have to work together for the broader sake of Greece. If anyone is acting above the interest of the Greek NT, then it is not Sokratis, but rather it is AEK, PAOK and to a lesser degree OSFP and PAO who have placed themselves above the NT.
ΕΠΟ: Ψάχνει προπονητή για την Εθνική και στο εξωτερικό, εξελίξεις με το τεχνικό επιτελείο και τον Σωκράτη
Η διοίκηση της ΕΠΟ σκέφτεται ακόμα και να προχωρήσει στην αποδέσμευση όλων των μελών του τεχνικού επιτελείου αλλά και του Μπασινά και ψάχνει προπονητή και στο εξωτερικό. Εξελίξεις και με τον Σωκράτη.
Δεν φαίνεται πως έχει αλλάξει τίποτα σε σχέση με την επικείμενη επισημοποίηση της αποχώρησης του Αναστασιάδη από τον πάγκο της Εθνικής. Πλην όμως είναι σοβαρό το ενδεχόμενο να φύγουν μαζί του και οι άμεσοι συνεργάτες του αλλά και ο Μπασινάς.
Επίσης σχετικά με τον Σωκράτη Παπασταθόπουλο μπορεί να προκύψουν εξελίξεις. Εξελίξεις που θα έχουν να κάνουν με την μη κλήση του για προσεχή ματς της Ελλάδας με την ελληνική Ομοσπονδία να βγάζει ένα κλίμα πως κανένας δεν είναι πάνω από την διοίκηση και ότι θα γίνουν αυτά που πρέπει.
Δεν φαίνεται πως έχει αλλάξει τίποτα σε σχέση με την επικείμενη επισημοποίηση της αποχώρησης του Αναστασιάδη από τον πάγκο της Εθνικής. Πλην όμως είναι σοβαρό το ενδεχόμενο να φύγουν μαζί του και οι άμεσοι συνεργάτες του αλλά και ο Μπασινάς.
Επίσης σχετικά με τον Σωκράτη Παπασταθόπουλο μπορεί να προκύψουν εξελίξεις. Εξελίξεις που θα έχουν να κάνουν με την μη κλήση του για προσεχή ματς της Ελλάδας με την ελληνική Ομοσπονδία να βγάζει ένα κλίμα πως κανένας δεν είναι πάνω από την διοίκηση και ότι θα γίνουν αυτά που πρέπει.
Let's make it clear that Sokratis bleeds blue and white. And not for a minute should it be believed that Sokratis threatened the ultimatum that Anastasiadis be fired or that he, Sokratis, would walk off the team. Perhaps Manolas may have spoken rashly, but Sokratis would have done no such thing. Rather, he had demanded the EPO perform their duties to the same level of expectation that is held of himself or anyone else. He spoke with candor and honesty after a defeat that has dealt Greece a major blow to the team's qualification prospects. Whether one agrees with the very public manner in which he made his statements or not, he rightly demanded that changes be made. And fault lies with Grammenos for having avoided the players at the team hotel, which would have given them a chance to interact with him about their concerns, and also in Grammeno's declaration before the game that Anastasiadis would be guaranteed his job, regardless of the result against Armenia. Far from Sokratis putting himself above the team, he acted as a captain, speaking for the team at a time when the president was clearly not involved enough in discussing with the players the glaring issues they were having with the coach. Grammenos and the EPO have shown too little care and interest in the national side. They have to do a better job. This is a big chunk of the problem and this is why Sokratis rightly spoke out.
Also, I think it is painfully obvious that there is a problem with the NT primarily due to the influence held by AEK and PAOK, and to a certain extent OSFP and even PAO. This is why the likes of Grammenos even hold a job. I believe these clubs have done incredible harm to the NT and the Greek league itself. Savvidis and Melissanidis in particular have to stop acting like babies and act in the best interest of the NT, as well as the league. For years their selfish interests has torn Greek football apart. I think Alafouzos' selfish interest has cost his own club more than anything. PAO, as a result, has lost a lot of their former influence over the National teams beyond the youth levels. OSFP have not helped matters either, especially as it relates to Greece's current predicament, having to play at the OAKA instead of the Karaiskakis. But make no mistake, the manner in which clubs in Greece are run, having put their own self-interests above those of the NT, is what has cost Greek football the most. At a certain point these clubs have to work together for the broader sake of Greece. If anyone is acting above the interest of the Greek NT, then it is not Sokratis, but rather it is AEK, PAOK and to a lesser degree OSFP and PAO who have placed themselves above the NT.
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