Yusuf Yazitsi was his great unlucky Olympic Last season, with his serious injury, but now he has returned to the team and wants to pay back the love he receives from everyone in Piraeus.
Speaking to the French Foot Mercato, Yusuf Yazitsi stressed that even after his injury, Olympiacos’ fans were treated like a … king and so he feels he owes a lot to the team.
Yazitsi’s statements
About how he feels about his return: “I feel better. Of course it was very difficult. I didn’t play for a long time, I was unlucky, but you know, that’s part of football and life. I played on Saturday in the first 35 minutes, it was good. A little bit, step by step, everything will get better. “
For how difficult it is not to play for a year: “Some players like football, others are not. I was born with football, with the ball in my mind. I really love this sport. Like everyone in my family. I want to play every day. Even if I had not trained I would like to touch the ball. When you have passed a major injury, especially if it is the second, it is very difficult. Every day you do the same workout. You do the surgery first, then you have the pain, stitches and swollen eyes. This is very difficult. You have to be very strong spiritually. If you are not, then you start losing your mind and it is not easy to digest it. It becomes even more difficult. I am mentally strong. When you start training again and walk a little, you can’t breathe. Then go to the court and watch the matches as a fan. It’s hard too. You want to be on the court, but you can’t. To come back you have to accept this situation. “
If you feel alone in these cases: “Yes, of course, it’s difficult. The example that comes to my mind is actually the gym. You know, you start training in the gym with your teammates and then go out on the pitch. Then you are left alone in the gym. It’s hard for players, because you want to play, train with the team. “
For the goals he has after a year of absence: “You know, I have a lot of dreams to succeed. I always write my dreams to turn them into reality. I have a lot of ambitions because I know my talents. I believe in myself, in my mental strength. Yes, even though I am 28 years old and I had a very ugly injury. But even with that, I’m really strong. As I said, I believe in myself. I have a lot of dreams to succeed. For example, this season, we will play in the Champions League. And of course, I want to do the double: Last season, I won the championship and after the cup, and I want to do the same, and also get to a good level in the Champions League. “
For his presence in Lille: “The period in Lille was ideal for me because I had a lot of successes there. When we won the championship, I had 20 goals, with 14 goals and 6 assists. I helped the team and I was successful. But, you know, then, there were problems that I can’t talk about now. Maybe after my career, I should refer to them. I had problems, something no one knows. I could have gone even better, because some days I didn’t feel really important. Not because of the coach, nor the players, but for another reason. After my career, maybe I talk about it. But I can’t talk to reporters about it now. But for me, even with these problems, I was successful. And I did a lot of things, I think I became the club’s top scorer in the history of European Cups at some point. “
On whether there was interest from Marseille when she left Lille: “Yes, that’s true. And I was of great interest from many teams. But you know, at that time, I didn’t want to play in France anymore because I wanted to stay connected to Lille. I didn’t want to combine my name with another French team, because I really respect the team as well as the fans. Me, I’m a baby on the court. People think I am not emotional, that I am cold. As a player on the court, yes, it’s true. But when I like something, I really like it. For example, I like Lille, the city and also people. After five years there, I don’t know, I didn’t want to wear a different jersey in France. So I wanted a change. That is, leaving the country was what I felt at that time. There was Marseille, but not only that. Even in Italy. “
On the choice to fight for Olympiacos: “I talked to many clubs, yes. And when Olympiacos called me, I felt I would go there after Lille. Because in Lille, I felt at home. And when I talked to Olympiacos, I felt like I was going to another house. I felt it right away. People are hospitable and I had the feeling that going there, I would be important. Although I was injured all season. I decided, I didn’t think so much, I felt I had to go there. “
For targets with Turkey: “Last year, we did a good Euro and we could have achieved more, but we didn’t. After all, I think we succeeded, but as I said, we could have done more in the event. This year, we have the World Cup qualifiers and I think our goal this year is to go to the World Cup. “
For the warm audience of Olympiacos: “They are a warm people, the Greeks are generally warm. When I arrived, I already felt at home. And my people are treated as I was hoping, even though I didn’t even play a game there. Even after the injury, when I went to a restaurant, people said, “Hi, what are you doing? We love you. We believe in you. You will be back. You will be part of our story. ” You know, even if you haven’t done anything, you already feel like you’ve done something because they are treated like a king. So I think this thing is very important to me, because I tell people not to worry. I will do my best and make you happy, because I owe you. I owe it to this club. And you know what I mean, I owe it to myself when I say that I owe it to this club because they treat me very well. “