Ioannidis wants revenge on Sporting: “It was hard, but I’m back”

Fotis Ioannidis granted, this Monday, an extensive interview with the program ‘Al Inn’, issued by the Greek television station SKAI, in which he addressed several topics, beginning from the outset with the physical problems that prevented him from fighting with Luis Suárez for the title of the Sporting attack front, last season of 2025/26.

“ I'm always there. I had, just a rough year last time, it's true. The injury caused me some difficulties, but now I’m back”, he assured the advance that, remember, he arrived at the José Alvalade Stadium just over a year ago, from Panathinaikos, for an initial amount of EUR 22 million.

“ Right now, I am very happy in Portugal, and I am going through a great time. The team is really great. I am 100% committed, because I really want to play for Sporting and prove to myself that I can also avenge, here (...). I have already said that self-confidence is everything, but we cannot underestimate the opponents ", he added.

The Hellenic international explained that, in order to play lion to the chest, a series of habits changed, starting with the departure of social networks, feeling that “he was wasting too much time in life”, instead betting on other activities that, he believes, will prove beneficial over time.

“ I am a person who imposes limits, and had not imposed a limit on this [social networks]. I didn't like it, and it turns out being there in this world wasn't good for me. I wanted to change the way I think and live, to see how this would go”, reflected the 26-year-old player.

“Time flies. I like to do new things. I play chess with Vagia, and we go to the fight. We're not masters, but we know the basics. I read a little too. I started reading [Fiodor] Dostoevsky and texts about Socrates. The environment on social networks is toxic”, he continued.

“There were times when certain things bothered me. I fought against it, inside myself, about how to get it out of my head, and I succeeded”, completed.

The sorrow for the World and the talk with Pavlidis

In this interview, Fotis Ioannidis confessed that it cost him to stay out of the last World Championship, after his ‘Greece’ failed to go beyond the Group’s third position C of the European clearance phase, with seven points won after six days, six fewer than Scotland and four fewer than Denmark.

“ When you see others playing in the World Cup, and you are playing friendly games, it is not good ", he said. It is certain that, after this failure, he himself returned to the main Hellenic selection in full force, and even gave in sight, with a goal and assistance, in the tie of two balls with the Netherlands.

An exhibition that earned him the title, in the goalless draw with Germany, where he even had the opportunity to seal the triumph, but wasted. A moment you didn't hide, caused you some heartache, which was only supported by an extensive conversation with...

Still regarding the null with the Germanic selection, Sporting's advance revealed an animated dialogue with the opposing defense, Malik Thiao, in the final moments: “At one point, at 80 minutes, we were talking and he told me ‘Enough’. I told him ‘Enough’, that I couldn’t take it anymore and that I was going to fall”.