Lisci says PAOK title race remains open despite Olympiacos draw

PAOK head coach Alessio Lisci stated that his team created opportunities to defeat Olympiacos in what he described as a balanced derby at Karaiskakis Stadium. Speaking after the match, Lisci acknowledged that while the squad wanted more from the fixture, they must accept the draw result. He emphasized that the game was even and that his players demonstrated necessary personality and character during a period where the team remains under construction.

Addressing PAOK’s current standing, Lisci clarified that the gap to the top of the table stems from previous adverse results rather than the latest stalemate. He specifically cited a past match against Kalamata as a primary factor in the lost points. Despite this deficit, the coach insisted that the championship race still has a long way to go and confirmed that winning the title remains the objective. He expressed confidence that the team will recover the dropped points as they continue to develop.

Lisci highlighted the psychological importance of the result, noting it provides continuity following two previous positive outcomes. He compared the current situation to an earlier break in the season when the team had entered the pause with three consecutive wins. However, he explained that significant injuries have depleted the squad since then, limiting their ability to work on specific tactical elements during the upcoming interruption. The coach observed that while the start to this cycle was worse than the previous one, the team has gradually improved.