“Outside the stadium I am a boy like any other. Am I a footballer? It means anything at all,” says Christos Zafeiris, speaking with flashscore about his beginnings in Norway, his time in the Czech Republic, his decision to constitute Greece and his experience in the famous La Masia academy of Barcelona.
Before the season, Zafeiris shed his blonde hair and suddenly started playing out of his skin. It’s as if his distinctive hair had tied him down in the spring. He couldn’t cope with the injury he picked up at the end of winter and even dropped out of the starting lineup for a few games. No goals, no assists, no interplay. He just couldn’t catch his previous form.
More was expected from the midfielder who was selected in the top 100 young footballers in Europe in the spring of 2023. There was even speculation that he might leave Slavia. However, he did not run away from the work he was doing, and that is why he has once again become one of the mainstays at the Prague club this season.
On Wednesday, Jindrich Trpisovsky team will have him again, this time he will oppose Ludogorets in Bulgaria to start the UEFA Europa League campaign.
Are you getting itching feet yet?
“I can’t wait, but I also know that the season is not only afraid of Europe. We also need to be successful in the championship, so we must take physical fitness seriously. It is difficult to prepare in the same way for the duels with Ajax. or maybe Karvina, but we have to do it. “
This will be the first time in the new format. How do you like?
“It will be an absolutely new experience for everyone. It is intelligent that we face more teams, that we fight until the end and that no team can let us go. But this is just a first impression.
You have several attractive opponents. Ajax, Frankfurt, Athletic Bilbao and Fenerbahce are groups that have been among the European groups.
“I am especially ahead in Bilbao. Spain, a wonderful team, a wonderful atmosphere, a lovely stadium. It will be something special!”
What about your trip to Greece? The lace in Pak will have a specific meaning for you, right?
“For the first time in my club career I will play in Greece, so I’m a bit curious to see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it. It’s definitely the second most exciting game of the normal season for Yo after Bilbao.
But you need to end there, right? Do you have express objectives in the competition?
“We have to go as far as possible. I think we have shown several times that we can compete with European clubs. I think we can go very far.
You are strong, especially at home, as you showed qualification in the Champions League. But in the end, you were knocked out through Lille, does it still hurt?
“It’s hard to accept. We played a wonderful game in the rematch, we discovered a way to win against anyone. But unfortunately we didn’t invent the two-goal deficit. It would be wonderful to play in the Champions League. ” However, we have to look to the future.
In qualifying, you also tried yourself in a defensive role. In the duel against Royal Union they put you in the rate of the harmful Cameron Puertas and almost did not allow her to enter the match. How did the role turn out?
“I will have to say that it was a total challenge. I’m an attacking player, but when the scenario calls for it, I’m happy to play this role. If the trainers I can help the main box
Would you like it?
“I like being in the country. It doesn’t matter where. The thing for me is to be there. That is enough to enjoy football. “
However, you were absent from the starting XI often in spring. Was that something you found difficult?
“Nobody likes to be on the bench, but that’s a component of football. At least I’ve tried to get something out of it. I worked hard in training, I talked to the coaches. I tried to show them that I deserved to be on the bench. No. “
In the end, you won their trust. However, in the summer there was speculation that you might leave Slavia. Did you solve it?
“Not at all. I don’t have the work done. I know that every progress is accompanied by shorter setbacks, the important thing is that they are not long-term. You have to be able to react to every step back, and that’s what I’m trying to do at the start of this season. I wanted to prepare for it as best as possible and I think I did quite well.”
So far, so good. . .
“But I can’t be satisfied. There are many vital fittings that await us in Europe and in the League. I have to paint to be able to be able to be able to I have to see to play as productive as possible.
Have the coaches found the perfect role for you? You seem to be able to link well with Oscar Dorley in the middle of the park.
“I say my position or my role in the box has fundamentally changed. The coaches still need me to do the same things as last year, but I think I’m better at following their instructions. I’m looking to try harder. Ultimately, play more on the opponent’s 16 and get chances.
You left Greece with your parents when you were nine years old. Do you remember how hard it was for you then?
“For the whole family it was very complicated. We had to start a new life in an absolutely foreign country. We didn’t know the language, we didn’t know anyone. In the end, football helped us all a lot. “Formation
Actually? As?
“I quickly made friends thanks to it. I just went out with the ball, met new people and I learned to speak Norwegian quite quickly because of it. My parents in turn made friends at the club I was at. So football played a very important role in making us fit in in Norway.”
Was it difficult to get used to Norwegian football? I think young Norwegians are real shepherd dogs.
“It was not the issue, I prefer that I refer to the other technique to the young footballers. In Greece, talented children go to big clubs, in Norway, which do not produce paintings like this. There is no academy where everyone is more productive”
Also, just before moving to Norway, you interned at the prominent La Masia Academy in Barcelona. You’ve gone from studying with the most talented young footballers in the world to being one of those guys who just play football for fun. . .
“I didn’t take it that way, I basically sought to play. Also, in Norway, I can laugh at football. In Barcelona it was more stressful for me. I didn’t speak a word ‘Spanish and I don’t’ Or I forget to feel a sense of worry, no I had compatibility there, but I did quite well in the style matches and they looked for me to stay, however, in the end, this would not be the right path.
Their first club outside the gates of Greece and Norway has become Slavic more than 10 years later. Weren’t you aiming higher? Perhaps his youth team’s spouse, Oscar Bobb, is already eyeing Manchester City’s first team.
“Not at all. The transfer to Slavia was important for me. In Norway I played for smaller clubs that were always at the bottom of the table. Suddenly, a team that wins trophies and regularly plays European Cups was interested in me. There wasn’t much to think about here.”
I guess it’s easy to get used to fighting for titles and matches in Europe, isn’t it?
“Well, it wasn’t easy at all. Every week you go into a game here thinking you have to get three points. There is nothing else but winning. I didn’t know that kind of attitude until then. I had to get used to it a little bit, but of course it’s a nice worry.”
When you arrived, there is a lot of communication about Nicolae Stancio’s replacement. Do you understand that?
“To be honest, almost nothing. I knew that I had played here and that I was very popular among the fans, but I never sought to imitate myself or compare myself to anyone. From the beginning, I sought to be myself. I sought to show: “It’s okay when other people tell you. ” compared to someone like that, but I don’t think it’s right to be tied down by that. “
Maybe one day, when you leave, fans will compare new signings to you. . .
“It would be good, however, I don’t think about it yet. I am in the Slavs and I need to help them with the most productive results. If there is an offer for a transfer, too bad. I’m not making it Cara now.
But I suppose it is not Slavia to be the last step.
“Of course, I would be satisfied if I had the opportunity to move forward. I would like to go one step further, however, it is transparent to me that it may not happen. Count on me and my performance. “
Do you have a league or league where you would like to play?
“My dream is to witness one of the first 4 European competitions. And they’re interested in me.