Vidi at the Toumba Stadium
The team will once again take to the pitch in Greece on Thursday but this time in Thessaloniki. The Europa League group stage match will be played tonight. Manager Marko Nikolic and Anel Hadzic attended the press conference yesterday at the Toumba stadium.
“We need to perform well in the next EL game as we did in London for example against Chelsea. However, we now need to pick up some points. If we do not pick up points against PAOK tomorrow and also in the match in Budapest against them, our chances of going through will slip away. We can take a big step towards second place with a win. PAOK are a very good team and we know that their supporters will create a great atmosphere inside the stadium. We will need to play without mistakes and as I have said earlier, out team are real fighters and they will do all they can on Thursday evening” – commented Marko Nikolic.
“This is the first time that I play against PAOK, who I consider to be strong. I feel that we have prepared suitably over the last few days and I hope that we will play a good match. We have shown earlier in Europe that we are not afraid of anyone. We can take up the battle with any side” – commented Anel Hadzic.
Vidi produced an even better display in early October at Stamford Bridge in London. Chelsea went into the game having not been beaten in the Premier League. They also fielded a very strong side in front of a big 40,000 crowd in West London. Marko Nikolic will look back on the chances that Nego and later Kovacs had but he would be very proud of the performance put in that evening by the Hungarian Champions.
A Morata goal after 70 minutes gave the London side a slender win and three points to go top of the group. Meanwhile, Vidi travelled back home to Hungary with their heads held high and received plenty of respect from football lovers both in Hungary and beyond. The British media were also full of praise for MOL Vidi and the way they played. The back pages of the newspapers covered the game and wrote about the very good performance.
Manager Marko Nikolic commented after the game that:
” We came here to play in a sharp game even if we respect Chelsea. I also said that the home team are currently in the top 10 in the World and I stick to that. We came here to cause a reaction for everyone and we managed it but nothing more.”
Now the focus turns to match 3 of the group and a trip to the Greek coastal town of Thessaloniki. PAOK lost their first game as mentioned by a single goal at home to Chelsea. However, they picked up an impressive away win at BATE to get 3 points and go second in the group.
Vidi will feel that they have every chance after two battling displays so far, which was especially confirmed by the good performance in London earlier this month. Marko Nikolic’ side will also be looking to build on the 2-0 away league win at Haladás on Saturday evening, which kicked off a run of 6 games in 3 weeks.
