Grigoriou: 'I Had to Take the Risk - We Believed in the Comeback'

Aris FC coach Michalis Grigoriou embraced a significant risk in the team's league opener, fielding several new players against Kalamata. This strategic decision, aimed at integrating fresh talent, altered the team's established identity observed during the pre-season. Grigoriou acknowledged the potential disruption but deemed it a necessary gamble for the long-term success of the squad.

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It is imperative to integrate these children. I had to take this risk through official matches.

The match saw a balanced first half, but Kalamata seized the initiative in the second, taking a 2-1 lead. However, Grigoriou managed to instill a belief in his players during the cooling break, convincing them that a comeback was still possible. This shift in mentality proved pivotal as Aris FC mounted a dramatic turnaround.

"I had to take this risk through official matches," Grigoriou stated after the game, explaining his decision to debut new faces. "We knew there would be great difficulties, which only grew. I started many new players, and obviously, the identity we saw in preparation was altered. But it is imperative to integrate these children."

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The first half was balanced. In the second, Kalamata found spaces on the transition and made it 2-1. During the cooling break, I told them there was time to turn the game around. The substitutions helped.

The coach highlighted that tactical substitutions made later in the game were instrumental in the comeback. Aris FC ultimately completed a significant turnaround, securing a 3-2 victory away from home. Grigoriou praised his players for their resilience and thanked the traveling fans who supported the team throughout the challenging match.

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Congratulations to the children and to the fans who made a very long journey.