AEK Athens coach hails Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho ahead of UCL clash – “He is a legend”

AEK Athens coach hails Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho ahead of UCL clash – “He is a legend” Damage control will be AEK Athens’ primary objective as they take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Heading into this game, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho pointed out the importance of sealing three points on the night while offering updates on team selection. On the flip side, AEK Athens coach Marko Nikolic has heaped praise on Mourinho while calling Real Madrid the best team in the world. Nikolic on facing Real Madrid First and foremost, Nikolic talked about the state of the team, which has been in poor form recently, ahead of the Real Madrid match. “We have a match tomorrow against the biggest club in the world. A team full of stars, and we’re really excited about it. It’s our 100th home game, on our own pitch. We’re aiming to be competitive. We’re playing in a league like the Greek one, and we see it as a challenge. Nikolic is not too happy with AEK Athens’ form. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) “But everyone needs to understand that we’re in a learning process that started about 12-14 months ago. We’re going to give it our all, no doubt about it. But know that it’s a challenge ,” he said (h/t Diario AS ). Having lost four of the last five matches in all competitions, Nikolic admitted he is not happy with the team’s performance heading into this game. “We’re not a team used to losing, and I felt angry on Sunday when we fell to Panathinaikos, but this should give us energy for what’s to come. Maximum concentration, 100%. Let the fans play their part, and let the players play their part too.” The AEK Athens went on to state that his team will try its best to do the impossible and give Real Madrid a tough run for their money. “We’re going up against a great team, the so-called Galácticos, with a coach who’s won everything. But nobody can take away our dream. Because we can achieve it. Sometimes, dreams do come true. “And as I’ve already said, there’s magic emanating from our pitch. I’m not going to define what that ‘something’ is. We know who we’re playing against, our opponent. But we also demand respect for our team. And tomorrow we’re going to try to earn it.” Nikolic on Jose Mourinho Mourinho has received high praise from Nikolic. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Nikolic is confident his team can put out a strong fight despite the recent run of form. “These kinds of matches are very special, very big. Different. We’ve been focused for two days on this great challenge. We deserve to play these kinds of games. Of course, we respect Real Madrid, but we’re going to give it our all to fight until the very last second. Marko Nikolic was also asked about facing Mourinho, who is eager to win first Champions League title with Real Madrid this season. “About Mourinho… he’s a legend. As are all the Real Madrid players. But we have a good team too, and with the support of our fans, we can achieve a lot tomorrow ,” he concluded.