Iraklis Coach Mazzarri Defends Himself After 4-0 Debut Loss: "I Need Time..."

After Iraklis suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to AEK Athens in their Greek top-flight debut, Walter Mazzarri has spoken for the first time about the difficult start to the season in an interview with SDNA. The former Napoli coach addressed the criticism he has received, explaining the difficulties encountered in building the squad and asking for time to assess a roster that was only completed shortly before the league began. "The only thing that didn't work was that we had to use players who had only had four or five days to get to know our way of working. Those who had completed the entire preseason, on the other hand, had performed very well in friendlies against Bologna, Palermo, and Parma." Mazzarri then discussed the departures of some players: "D'Ausilio left for personal reasons, while I do not agree with the decision made regarding Okaka, who would have been very useful for the growth of this team." Regarding the evaluation of new signings, he added: "A coach like me judges players on the field. Many arrived late, and I still need to understand if they are suitable for our style of play."

Mazzarri Attacks Critics and Takes a Jab at Management

The coach then responded to the criticisms from technical advisor Giannis Kontis, who had publicly commented on some of his decisions: "I've been told about his statements, but I don't know him. I don't know if he has ever coached at a high level to be able to express such judgments. Today, everyone talks about football without having the necessary expertise. I'm not interested in what these people say." In contrast, his assessment of club president Panagiotis Monemvasiotis is different, with whom Mazzarri emphasized he has a positive relationship: "I have an excellent relationship with him. He is a person I like, and his behavior towards me has always been dignified and noble. There is mutual respect, and everything has gone well so far." However, immediately after, the harshest jab came: "The problem isn't the pressure; I've lived with it for 24 years. The real problem is that the president lives in Athens and has left some people here. I don't know if they are truly working for his benefit. This is what I think, but for now, I prefer not to add anything else." Finally, Mazzarri appealed to the Iraklis fans: "I don't set limits for myself, but it will take a lot more time to understand what the true value of this squad will be. Our supporters are extraordinary: even after a defeat, they applaud and support the team. This is what the players need. Rome wasn't built in a day; it takes patience."