Georgatos hangs on to hopes

By Matthew Spiro

After their remarkable run of seven consecutive UEFA Champions League group stage draws ended with a 4-0 defeat at AS Monaco FC on Matchday 2, AEK Athens FC desperately need a win against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

AEK optimism
Absent for AEK will be left wing-back Grigorios Georgato, who has ruled himself out of the game for personal reasons. However, the former Panahaiki GC, Olympiacos CFP and Internazionale FC player remained optimistic about AEK's prospects when he spoke to uefa.com.

uefa.com: The 1-1 draw against RC Deportivo La Coruña on Matchday 1 made it seven draws in a row for AEK in the Champions League. Why do you think the club had such a run?
 
Grigorios Georgatos: We haven't been setting out deliberately to draw matches. Often in the Champions League a draw is a good result - particularly when you are playing away - so we shouldn't be down on ourselves. I think this record just goes to show that we belong at this level. It is true that six points was not enough to get us through the first group stage last season, but for AEK to finish unbeaten in a group that included Real Madrid [CF] and [AS] Roma was a real achievement.
 
uefa.com: The Monaco defeat left AEK with just one point from two matches. Is qualification still possible?

Georgatos: We knew from the start that this group would be very tough but also very open. All four teams are good and anyone can beat anyone. We are certainly not out of it yet. We still have home matches to play against Monaco and PSV, so if we can get six points from them we'll be in with a shout.

uefa.com: Who do you consider your most dangerous opponent?
 
Georgatos: Deportivo. Without a doubt. Simply because they have more experience of playing in the Champions League than the other teams. Monaco are also very dangerous. They are a solid team, and with attackers like [Jérôme] Rothen, [Ludovic] Giuly and [Fernando] Morientes they're always going to be a threat going forward.
 
uefa.com: Does the experience that you gained during your two spells in Italy with Internazionale help you on these European nights?

Georgatos: I learned a great deal in Italy about tactics and different styles of play. In the Champions League, tactics become very important. You know that your opponent will be top quality, so if there is a way of getting an advantage it is important to take it.
 
uefa.com: Do you offer advice to the more inexperienced players in the AEK side? 
 
Georgatos: I always talk to my team-mates and offer advice if I think I have something useful to say. But we are a pretty experienced side and I am not the only one who has played outside Greece. People like Vassilios Tsartas and Theodoros Zagorakis have a wealth of experience and we also have many international players. In fact, I'd say that our experience of European football - when you take into account last season's Champions League campaign - is one of the greatest assets we've got.

uefa.com: You made a name for yourself in Greece with AEK's big rivals, Olympiacos. Did it take time for you to be accepted by the AEK fans?
 
Georgatos: I only joined AEK last season so I am still fairly new to the club, but I have not encountered any problems with the supporters. I think that they see that I give 100 per cent on the pitch and that is all they ask.