| Report Index--> 2006-07--> All for 20060823 | ||||
| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 23 Aug 2006 AEK Athens 3 Hearts 0 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | Herald ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Valdas Ivanauskas | <-auth | Rob Robertson | auth-> | Iouri Baskakov |
| Brellier Julien | McCann Neil | [J Souza pen 79] ;[N Liberopoulos 82] ;[J Souza 85] | ||
| 24 | of 059 | ----- | E | A |
Local hero with a score to settleROB ROBERTSON in Athens August 23 2006 Takis Fyssas returned to Greece last night angry that his countrymen had not given Hearts the respect they deserved after their defeat to AEK Athens at Murrayfield. The international full-back, who was part of the Greece team who won Euro 2004, was furious at the reaction in his homeland after AEK Athens beat Hearts 2-1 in the first leg of the third round Champions League qualifier. "They said Hearts were not a good team and I am very disappointed because of that," said Fyssas. "I was so angry because they say such bad things about the team. They could not understand we had so many players out and Julien Brellier and Deividas Cesnauskis could not play at the last minute. I was hoping that people who know football in Greece would understand that. "They didn't and that is why I am very angry and want to go out tonight and do well and for Hearts to do well as a team. If things go for us and we win, then I will be a happy man. I do not want to let myself down." Fyssas will be an important player in the Olympic Stadium tonight against an AEK Athens team who are red-hot favourites to progress with ease to the group stages of the Champions League. The Greek full-back admitted that the bad taste left in his mouth after the first leg defeat had taken the shine of his excitement about playing a team from his own country in his homeland for the first time. "I had dreamed for a long time about playing a team from Greece but it does not feel as important for me as I thought it would," said Fyssas. "Also I play in Athens many times for the national team and in club football matches. "It is good to return here and the atmosphere will be good but Hearts have come here thinking we can go through to the group stages. The fans will be a long way away from the pitch so the atmosphere may not be so intimidating as their old stadium which was demolished last year which is good for us. We will be going out there in a positive frame of mind." Steven Pressley, the club captain, said he felt bringing Paul Hartley back for the match was not a risk. The midfielder was faced with tabloid allegations yesterday, which he refuted. Representatives of the newspaper involved were banned from the Hearts press conference last night. The decision came after discussions with the players on the flight to Athens who voted unanimously to take a stand against the publication. Pressley said having the midfielder back was a huge boost to the team and the Scotland internationalist was experienced enough to cope with the level of expectation his return would bring. "We come here as underdogs after the first leg result but we are here in Greece with the intention of winning the game," said Pressley. "They were impressive in the first leg but goals change games. If we get an early one we will have a good opportunity. Few people gave us a chance in Bordeaux and in Basel but we went to both places and won by producing magnificent performances. "I do not perceive bringing Paul back as a risk as although he lacks match practise his adrenalin will help him through. He is a very important player for us." Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, coach of AEK Athens, said his team would attack Hearts from the start to try to kill the game off early. "My players are used to such important games," said Serra Ferrer. "The players must have respect for Hearts and I do not believe we will be overconfident. "We certainly do not need any extra motivation as we know we can make the Champions League if we win." Nikolaos Liberopoulos, the AEK Athens striker, said the home side would not let up against Hearts this evening. "We will go from the first minute to the last," said Liberopoulos who was man of the match at Murrayfield. "We have to be focused and will have nearly 45,000 behind us and realise we can make the Champions League which is our aim."  Taken from the Herald |
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