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| Tuesday, 28 April 2009 12:59 |
PAOK boss Santos admits surprise at excellent seasonPortuguese prepares for play-offs Having guided his side to an impressive second-place finish in the Greek Super League, PAOK manager Fernando Santos admits that this season’s performance has been beyond his expectations.Having finished in 9th place at the end of the 2007/08 campaign, Santos was charged with securing a top five finish this year and European qualification. However, with veteran former Portugal international Sergio Conceicao on the flanks, PAOK finished the regular season on a nine-match unbeaten run to finish as runners-up to champions Olympiakos “At the beginning of the year I was hoping for a good positive season, and believed we had a team capable of securing a European place,” Santos said in a radio interview with TSF. “But if you had asked me if we could finish above AEK and Panathinaikos I would have said it would be very difficult. Therefore, we certainly surpassed my expectations.” PAOK are guaranteed qualification for Europe next year, with the clubs who finished from 2nd-5th place in the Super League - PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK and Larisa - facing off in a play-off competition over the next few weeks to determine which competition each team will take part in during the 2009/10 season. The winners of the mini-league will advance to the Champions League qualification rounds, while the teams in second and third head to the Uefa Cup (from next season known as the Europa League), while the bottom-placed side in the tournament will be included in the draw for the Intertoto Cup. As for his future, Santos expects to remain in Greece for at least another year, while discarding any thoughts of returning to Portugal. The 54-year-old last managed in his home country in 2006/07, when he was sacked after one season at the helm with Lisbon giants Benfica. “I have one more year left on my contract and unless something abnormal happens it’s most likely that I will fulfil the contract,“ he said. “The thought of returning to Portuguese football does not enter my head.” Add your comment |
