AEK Athens were held to a 1-1 draw away to Asteras Tripolis, dropping two more points after a similar result against Kifisia, with head coach Marko Nikolic making no attempt to hide his disappointment after the match.
The draw means AEK have picked up just two points from two away matches in the first four rounds of the Greek league season, both of which have ended in stalemates.
AEK Athens are one of Greece's most successful and widely supported football clubs, based in the capital. Asteras Tripolis are based in Tripoli, in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece.
Nikolic on the missed chances
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Nikolic said it had been a dynamic game from both sides but that AEK had failed to make the most of it. He said his team had enjoyed plenty of possession and created several chances, with around 23 to 25 shots, while Asteras also had opportunities to score. Comparing the two sides' chances, he said AEK had created not only their own opportunities but had also handed Asteras theirs. He praised his players' effort and thanked the travelling supporters, adding that although AEK could have won, Asteras had fought hard and deserved their point based on their effort.
Comparing this season to last
Nikolic contrasted the result with AEK's record the previous season, when the club took six points from away matches that followed European fixtures. He said the game against Kifisia had been a poor performance, but that this was not the case against Asteras, describing it as a good, intense match with players going back and forth and competing hard for the ball. He said AEK had come to Tripoli to take all three points and were disappointed not to.
He added that he did not want to rush to conclusions and always reviewed certain things after matches, but said the game had been lost in AEK's own half, since just as his side created chances for themselves, they also created chances for their opponents. He said Asteras had been mentally ready to exploit the opportunities AEK gave them, and that while he was trying to stay calm, he was not, though the team's focus was already on the next match.
No excuses over concentration
Asked whether a lack of concentration was to blame, Nikolic said he was not sure that was the right way to describe it. He said the issue involved experienced players and leaders within the squad who are expected to carry the rest of the team, and that such mistakes were not acceptable. He said he expected those players to perform at a top level and not to drop off so badly.
Nikolic said he was not blaming any individual player and that ultimate responsibility lay with him as head coach for anything negative the team had shown.
