The MVP and Best Goal awards of the 20th matchday were awarded to Kostas Fortounis playing for Olympiacos, who topped the competition organised by Super League, the Panhellenic Association of Professional Players (PSAP) and NOVA. The award was presented by the Vice President of FC Olympiacos, Mr Savvas Theodoridis.
As regards the goal he scored from a free kick in the match in Ioannina that was voted as "best goal" of the 20th matchday, the international attacking midfielder of Olympiacos pointed out:
"I believe it was a beautiful goal combined with a great away victory. I wish to score more goals in the future."
-Were you trying to score from a free kick?
"It's a move we regularly work on during training and I am happy that I made it happen on the pitch, during the game."
On Kostas Fortounis being named MVP of the 20th matchday, the Vice President of FC Olympiacos Savvas Theodoridis said:
"I know Kostas since he was a little kid, ever since he was with Olympiacos. He then went away. I never understood whether this was good for him. But the way he returned was probably good for him. He is right now the most complete Greek footballer. I will not even discuss if he is the best "ten", he is by far the best than the rest. I am very happy about this boy. He is very humble. He knows really well what he wants to achieve. And the most important thing is that he has bonded so much with Olympiacos that he gives his all, even his soul, for the team. He is very serious in his game. He is a great player. What can I say. He enters the pitch and all his teammates love him. He doesn't play for himself. He plays for himself when he has to in order to do what he does. But he mostly plays for the team. You see how many assists he has in each match. I believe that Kostas has much more to offer to Greek football. I believe that he will be one of the greatest "tens" to have ever played in Olympiacos and in Greek football. I really believe that."
Kostas Fortounis pointed out: "This is definitely a distinction. Given this, my main concern is that the team wins. If the team wins, then I am happy. Personal distinctions are of course always welcome."
-We recently read an interview of Giorgos Darivas who compared you to Thanasis Bebis. How special is this comparison to you?
"It definitely fills me with joy to have people say such things about me. I want to prove them right. I will keep working in order to achieve many more things."
Savvas Theodoridis said: "Giorgos Darivas was indeed one of the greatest footballers to have ever played for Olympiacos and Thanasis Bebis was indeed the greatest ten to have ever played in Greek football. He is by far the best than anyone else. He was a spirited and strong player, despite his small stature. He had a spirit like no other. I hope Kostas will be like Thanasis because besides being a masterful player, he also was a team of his own. He did whatever he liked on the pitch. I hope he will be a lot like him. I believe a lot in Kostas. He may become even greater than Bebis."
On the Sunday derby against PAOK, Fortounis said: "We know it's a derby. We want to win this mostly for the fans and our president. The stands will be full. We want to play good football and win the match."
The Vice President of FC Olympiacos Savvas Theodoridis added. "I personally want to ask from all the fans to chant the name of Olympiacos loudly. Also, to avoid throwing anything on the pitch. Not even a matchstick, so to speak. Because then Olympiacos has to pay for all this. I know how much the fans love Olympiacos. I ask this favour of them. They can chant, but they must do everything decently. Olympiacos is one of the greatest European clubs. The team proves that every Sunday. We only want to play football. And we want every match to be like a Champions League match. The same way the fans behave in a Champions League match, the same way they should behave in the match against PAOK. They should enjoy the match. This is the only thing I ask of them."
