PAOK FC owner Ivan Savvidis called on his squad to regroup and treat every remaining match like a final during a training session on Saturday following the club's early exit from European competition.
Savvidis, who visited the training ground alongside his two sons on August 29, spoke directly to the squad after Norwegian side Brann eliminated the Greek club from Europe. The owner stressed that the team needed an immediate restart as they turn their focus back to domestic competition.
Call for a fresh start
Addressing the players, Savvidis said that time could not be turned back and that looking to the past would not help the team. He instructed them to forget their European campaign, describing it as a bad dream, and insisted that the squad must start from scratch.
The owner stated that everyone at the club must believe in their objectives, emphasizing that anyone who lacks belief cannot remain at PAOK. He explained his vision to build an organization in both the administrative offices and on the pitch that shares full faith in their targets. He added that the squad must do things they had not done in the past, noting that while eleven players take the field, they must play as one unified unit.
Domestic focus and upcoming fixtures
Savvidis urged the squad to approach every upcoming fixture as if it were a final, setting a target of securing three points every week. Referring to their league campaign, he declared that their season did not start with their opening match against Levadiakos, but effectively begins now.
He added that the players have a duty to protect the dignity and name of PAOK while proving every day the scale and standing of the club. PAOK next travel to face Atromitos away from home in the second matchday of the Super League Greece season.
Founded in 1926 and based in Thessaloniki, PAOK FC are one of the most prominent clubs in Greek football. Savvidis, a Russian-Greek businessman, has owned the top-flight club since 2012.
