Where it all began, PAOK’s great circle has come to an end

The losing final is definitely the “end of an era” for PAOK. It was a foregone conclusion that even if Razvan Lucescu’s team won another trophy in Panthesalico, the circle of footballers like Diego Bicesvar and Omar Kadori, the links of the team that won the championship without defeat and the first double in the history of the Doubleheader, would be closed.

And it seems that there will be other changes in PAOK’s roster, apparently decided before the final, such as Nelson Oliveira who will not continue in Tumba.

The changes to be made that the team members have spoken about publicly have already been released – PAOK Vice President Makis Gagatsi’s remark about a “roster upgrade” was typical.

As was planned before the last PAOK final in which he won, the match against Olympiacos in the 2020-21 season, the fate of the then-coach Pablo Garcia, nor the champion of that final, Mikael Kremnchik, did not change.

Plan support is required

PAOK will have to find a way to overcome relegation to fourth place in the league and a losing final match in which they played one more player than their first quarter. And to find the strength not to spoil the plan that he tried to implement last summer with his young children.

On the contrary, he must insist on them, and invest in them by adding good footballers who support them. Because the truth is that PAOK could not take the next step this year, not because their “children” did not give their best, but mainly because the experienced ones did not perform as expected.

And it is the fact that PAOK relied more than usual on Konstantinos, Koulirakis and all these “yeast” youngsters to put together a team that will claim and win trophies again.

From the beginning to the difficult and upcoming year

Obviously, the next day for PAOK this summer will be more difficult after today’s defeat. The ticket to the European League qualifiers has been left for Olympiacos and PAOK will have to start from the second qualifier of the Conference League and commit to achieving three qualifiers to reach the groups of the competition.

A fact that, if nothing else, will force his people to move quickly, so that their team will be ready when their competitive duties begin. And that could cost him more than failing to finish the season with a trophy.

The circle where it all began has closed

What is certain is that for Bauk in Volos a great circle was closed. And it is perhaps semiotic that this happens in Panthesalekos, the stadium where the most successful team in the history of Dikvalo started winning titles and with a loss against AEK, the team against which it has suffered … more than any other in recent years.

The only positive thing is that now his people are well aware of what they need to do to help their team return to the new cycle of successes. The fact that they already did it once means they can do it again.

Watch game night: