“I feel like every game is a home game”

INTERVIEW

Pavlidis, Benfica striker, feels he's at a very special club, where the fans play a decisive role in supporting the team in every match, home and away. In an interview with Betano Mag, available as a video on BPlay (see here), he discussed the present and the future, also revisiting the steps he took to wear the Sacred Mantle.

How did football come into your life?

When I was a child I wanted to be involved in sports and my parents took me to a field, I was 4 or 5 years old. I already loved football and it became a part of my life.

Who was your idol?

When I was young, about 10/11 years old, I loved Steven Gerrard, but later, when I started playing more as a striker, I liked [Luis] Suárez.

You started your training at Bebides 2000 and finished it at Bochum. What was it like swapping Greece for Germany?

I spent 12 years at that academy, it was great, I played with my friends, I still have friends there. It's very nice to remember the times I played there, when I was very young. Of course, leaving everything behind, my hometown, going to Germany on my own was difficult on the one hand, but on the other, my dream was to play football. It was incredible for me and my career to go to Germany, because it was one of the main countries to play football in and to improve my skills.

You didn't start out as a striker. How did you make the transition from midfielder to striker?

Honestly, I was a number 8/10, then the coaches put me in the number 9 position, I started scoring goals and showing my qualities. When I was 16, 17, 18, I was looking for my position, I also played as a 10, on the left, on the right, as a striker, everywhere. I learned a lot of things and, in the end, I only wanted to play as a number 9. I think it's good to play in other positions, because you learn a lot of things, and not just playing as a striker, but in the end, playing as a forward, as a number 9, is the most beautiful position, because you're the player to score the goals.

Do you remember your debut for Bochum's first team?

It was a bit of a surprise because I was only 17 and I wasn't expecting it, it was the last game of the season and that year I was the youngest in the team. I trained all week with the first team and at the end I saw my name in the squad list. I couldn't believe it, it was incredible and then I just enjoyed being part of the team. I didn't think I'd play, but I played the last 15 minutes in the last match of the season, in Germany, in the 2. Bundesliga, the second division of the Bundesliga. It was incredible, I was very grateful for it and it made my family proud.

Then you were loaned out to Borussia Dortmund. Did it live up to your expectations?

I was young, coming back from a minor injury, and I needed to go where I could play. Borussia Dortmund was a fantastic club for me to understand what a big club is and it was incredible to understand what it's like to play for a club like Borussia Dortmund. I was playing in the second team and people love the club. It was great to play a year there, to get minutes, and it was very important for my move to the Netherlands, because if you play for Dortmund, everyone will look up to you.

It was at Willem II, in the Netherlands, that you got your first contract and where you started to make a name for yourself. Was it a good club for your growth?

Yes, there were three good teams that season and Willem II was very important for my career. I was still looking for my position on the pitch, at that time I wasn't a number 9 yet, but for me it was incredible, despite a small injury, to be at a club in the Eredivisie [Dutch First League], to play and score goals in the league, to play the cup final, the European competitions, it was incredible and it really was my first relevant years in professional football.

Your goalscoring got better and better and at AZ Alkmaar you scored 80 goals in total. Did you work on something differently that led to this result?

Yes, I was thinking about the next step in my career and AZ Alkmaar was a fantastic project for me. I spoke to the people there before making the decision and I felt very comfortable, it was incredible. I struggled a bit in the first few games, but then I adapted and everything went well. To play in European competitions every year, to be at the top of the league every year, I came close to winning a cup with them, but we lost twice in the semi-finals, yet I still managed to be at the top of European soccer and the Netherlands, it's a club I'll never forget. It's very special to see my stats there, I was very happy with everyone, I made friends there that I'll keep in touch with even in ten years' time. When I finish my career I'll certainly go back there and they're always invited to my home in Greece.

What differences have you found between German and Dutch soccer?

I think in Germany there isn't much space when you're young, the teams are all very good there, whereas in the Netherlands, the league is good, but they give younger players a chance, they believe in them to play in the 1st division and to show their qualities. I think that's the main difference between these countries. The German style is more about working hard and fighting during the game, in the Netherlands there's more technique and more space for the forwards, there's a lot you can improve on a technical level, they work a lot on that with you.

How did you react to Benfica's approach?

The first time I met the people from Benfica it was very pleasant, I told them that I was open to the possibility and that I liked the club. I already knew that it was a great club, that it's in the Champions League every year and that it's always fighting for titles, it's one of the best clubs in the world. Obviously, I was proud and blessed to come and give everything for the club.

What did you know about the club? Did you talk to anyone before accepting the offer?

Yes, I spoke to Vlachodimos, he knows the club very well and he explained a few things to me and told me that I would love the club, the city and the fans. He's absolutely right, I don't see anything negative here.

Benfica fans live the club with great intensity and crowd the stadiums where the team plays. How do you feel that support?

I love seeing the stadium always full. Every game with 60,000 spectators, even in friendly matches, was incredible. Even at away games, everywhere, the Benfica fans are there, making a lot of noise in the stadium. In fact, I feel like every game is a home game, it's incredible. Not many clubs manage to do that and it shows what a special club Benfica is.

How do you compare them to Greek fans?

I think the culture of the people is similar and I think they're also noisy in stadiums.

The Estádio da Luz is special for Greeks, ever since they won Euro 2004. You were very young then, but is it special to you now?

Of course, I've heard some stories from the people who work for the Greek national team, explaining to me how special that night was for them and for my whole country. To win something like that was incredible. It's a stadium that I can feel now too, I'm very happy to be playing there and I hope to score lots of goals and help the team. It's my home.

How do you define yourself as a striker?

That's a tough one. I like to help the team by building up plays and pressing high up. Of course I like to score goals, that's my job, but I also like to make assists for my teammates and find spaces for them.

What do you think of the Portuguese league so far?

I think it's one of the seven best leagues in Europe. You can see that the level is very high and, of course, playing here is very beautiful and I've enjoyed every game so far. Of course we have to win every game, because we're Benfica.

We're on the eve of Benfica-FC Porto. How do you prepare before a big game?

I've played a lot of important games in my career and it will be great to play another one. I prepare in the same way for every challenge, but of course playing in a "clássico" is different. I'm looking forward to giving everything for the club and I hope to win this match.

Has anyone shown you videos of other “Clássicos”, of the passionate atmosphere?

I know that the fans here and in Greece are always "fighting" on and off the pitch, you can feel the intensity and tension on and off the pitch. I think it will be an incredible game.

Given what you've experienced here, how would you compare the Portuguese league with the German and Dutch leagues?

Comparing Portugal with the Netherlands, I'd say there's more intensity here, the games are more aggressive and hard-fought. Teams defend a bit more against us, they try to win a few points. In the Netherlands it's a bit different, because the small clubs just want to play football and enjoy the game. The games are more open and faster, the ball always going from one side of the pitch to the other. Here it's more tactical.

The Champions League has a new format. Do you think it's interesting?

I think those in charge at UEFA are trying to make the competition more interesting. You play against eight fantastic clubs and different opponents. It's very interesting to be in a league rather than a group stage, it makes you want to improve and, of course, be at the top. In fact, it's an improvement on the group stage, not something different.

What individual and collective goals do you have for the near future?

I want to keep working hard for my team and, of course, win a trophy for Benfica, that's the most important thing in my mind at the moment.

Which players do you identify with and why?

Honestly, I don't look at other players, I just look at my career and what I need to do to improve my game, that's all.

Can you say any words in Portuguese?

“Bom dia”, "tudo bem", things like that. I'm trying to learn.

What's it like living in Portugal?

It's very similar to Greece, I can say that people are very emotional and happy and, of course, I'm enjoying it, Lisbon is a very beautiful city. There's very good food, good restaurants and I can say that these first two or three months have been a pleasure. I hope to continue living here for a few more years.