US press heaps praise on Fatih Terim

The established US newspaper Washington Post has published an article about Panathinaikos Manager Fatih Terim.

The Washington Post's article on Fatih Terim, titled 'The 'Emperor' of Turkish football is shaking up Greece', is as follows:

"Looking to add to a career filled with history as a player and manager, Fatih Terim is experiencing his new challenge in neighboring Greece.

The seventy-year-old manager took charge of Panathinaikos in the new year, and the team will face PAOK in Thessaloniki on Sunday. Both teams are tied at the top of the Super League with 44 points each after 19 matches.

Terim, the former manager of the Turkish National Team who won eight championships as manager at Galatasaray, earned the nickname "Emperor" due to his string of successes.

He made an immediate impact in Athens; he won three league matches, drew 2-2 away against defending champions AEK, and eliminated Olympiakos from the Greek Cup.

In the January transfer window, Terim added Greek National Team captain Tassos Bakasetas to his squad. Turkish National Team defender Samet Akaydın and Polish goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski were signed on loan.

All three players featured against Atromitos in the first leg of the Greek Cup quarter-finals, where Panathinaikos suffered their first defeat of the year with a 2-1 score despite dominating the match.

A bit contrary to the character we know, Terim did not seem to care much about the result.

"As long as Panathinaikos plays like this, no one should worry. We will not be afraid of PAOK," he said, acknowledging that some of his players might have been affected by the upcoming northern journey (the away match against PAOK).

Terim has been careful to avoid making any comments in Athens regarding the often-tense relations between Greece and his home country, Turkey.

His high-profile move came at a time when relations between the two neighbors, who agreed last year to set aside long-standing disputes over illegal migration to the European Union and contested maritime borders in the Eastern Mediterranean, are thawing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was a semi-professional footballer in his youth, called Terim to wish him luck after setting foot in Athens at the end of December.

Looking to repeat the championship success they achieved in 2019, an in-form PAOK will be without their Portuguese captain Vieirinha due to injury, while center-back William Troost-Ekong and forward Mbwana Samatta, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations, will also be unavailable.

Constantly trailing behind their rivals, Panathinaikos has not won a league title since 2010.

In the press conference held after his arrival, Terim said, "14 years is a long time," and added:

"But the same situation was true for Galatasaray (when I took over) – until we beat everyone."

News Source: 12punto