CYPRUS league leaders AEL take on Omonia at the Tsirion Stadium in Limassol tomorrow afternoon with coach Charalambos Christodoulou serving the first match of a two-match ban imposed by the Cyprus Football Association.
“I wanted to talk about football as that is my job, but after the decision by the Cyprus Football Association’s Judical Committee I have to reflect and say that the ban imposed on me is unfair,” Christodoulou said at the pre-game press conference.
“Unlike some other teams we are capable of winning games on the pitch and we do not rely on the committee to help us out. What is for sure is that this situation will only make us stronger and our supporters should be aware of that,” he added.
Christodoulou has been punished for reportedly making an improper hand gesture after his side’s Coca Cola Cup clash with Anorthosis on March 21.
“The match against Omonia is another very important duel. It is unnecessary to waste any words in order to explain how good Omonia are. However, our goal is always to win, especially when we play at home. I believe that the more determined team on the day will come out victorious and I hope that will be AEL,” he said.
“The fact that Omonia beat us twice already this season should not play any role, it is just another challenge ahead and nothing else,” concluded Christodoulou.
Omonia manager Neophytos Larkou meanwhile acknowledged the importance of the game: “We face AEL in Limassol in what will be a very difficult match that could determine the course of the remainder of the season for us.
“What we need is a game without any defensive mistakes and plenty of attacking inspiration. This is what we spent the entire week working on.”
In the other Group 1 match that is also scheduled to kick-off at 5pm tomorrow, defending champions APOEL host Anorthosis at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. The match will be played behind closed doors as punishment for violence at the APOEL-Omonia derby on March 23.
AEL lead the standings with 61 points, with APOEL second on 59. Omonia and Anorthosis are in third and fourth place with 57 and 53 points respectively.
Elsewhere, in Group 2 this afternoon at 5pm, AEK take on Nea Salamina, while Alki visit Apollon in Limassol.
In the struggle to avoid the drop in Group 3, Ethnikos Achnas face Aris Limassol, while Olympiakos Nicosia meet Enosis Neon Paralimni.
