Vassilis Sambrakos writes about the “answer” given by the Greek defender to the question about how a footballer can “survive” in a large roster like that of AEK.
In the case of AEK, there is a lot of talk this year about the “mountain” that Matias Almeida has been climbing since the time of the European exclusion in the matter of managing a very large roster. Why is this debate so hotly debated? Because it was opened first by the Argentinian coach, when he repeatedly expressed himself in public about how difficult it is to keep the dressing room “warm” in an era with few games – that is, while AEK was only playing in the league. He had told us that he made a clear explanation to each of his players about the situation they will face due to the lack of European games from AEK’s schedule, but was repeatedly positioned to tell us that he often prioritized ” to have them all well” when making the lineup for a match. So he let us understand that he was worried about the possibility of having to work with “alienated” or disappointed footballers and the aura that this disappointment would create in his dressing room.
The time that has passed has shown that there were times when footballers did not operate with well-meaning egos, and this had an effect on the team’s mentality, its psychology, and ultimately team performance.
But time shows that there are also cases like that of Simos Mitoglou. During this season, in 9 appearances (3 friendlies, 4 in the league and 2 in the cup) Mitoglou runs with an 80.7% success rate on all his actions in the games. And 2 of his 4 appearances in the league were minutes.
During the previous season, Mitoglou presented himself with a 79.3% success rate in all of his actions in games. He made 13 appearances in the league, but 6 were minutes.
Even if you haven’t watched him in the games, you realize that the story of the last 1.5 years or so is the story of a footballer who is “wronged”, because he doesn’t manage to become permanent in the basic formation even though he performs well or very well every time he is used . And how does he manage this? He entered the starting lineup last Saturday, in the match against Lamia, and made an appearance with 91% success in 87 actions in one game. And when he scores the winning goal he celebrates with everyone, including his coach. In a sensitive moment, when it is human not to have absolute control over his emotions, Mitoglou chooses to show respect to his coach.
If all football players had Mitoglou’s mentality, it is possible that Almeida would have faced less “hardships” and consequently Almeida would have operated with a clearer mind from the moment of AEK’s European exclusion until now.
Yes, but Mitoglou is not someone whose previous rich career “requires” his presence in the main squad, one would say. Yes, but precisely because he hasn’t managed to get rich either in performances and accolades or in contracts, Mitoglou could be operating under the influence of the irritation created by the impatience to make him permanent. He could have been disappointed, just as he could have “escaped” at the moment of celebrating an important goal.
No one can know if Simos Mitoglou will ever manage to establish himself at AEK. But one can safely say that the 25-year-old central defender is very strong mentally and spiritually. He is someone who can keep himself motivated even during times when he feels that his coach doesn’t trust him or “see” him. And this is a characteristic of a football player who can have a very good career.
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