GREECE could go to Germany for Euro 2024 in the summer without a manager.
That is because Chelsea and Tottenham legend Gus Poyet’s deal runs out on March 31 and the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) still haven’t offered him a new deal.
Ethniki have dramatically improved under the Uruguayan tactician, who led them to Nations League success as they got promoted to League B.
The Greek national team are now very close to qualifying for their first Euros since 2012 as they will face Kazakhstan in the semi-finals at OPAP Arena on March 21.
If the Euro 2004 champions get through Magomed Adiyev’s side then they will set a final showdown against either Luxembourg or Georgia away on March 26.
But despite winning 11 out of his 19 games in charge – of which he lost six – and taking France to the limit with a narrow 1-0 loss away and a 2-2 draw at home, that could be Poyet’s last game with Greece.
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The 56-year-old wishes to stay but this “strange” situation is “out of his hands” and has even affected the players.
The Uruguayan also fears that he will be deemed responsible as to why Greece were left without a manager only three months before the tournament.
Especially now that the list of potential replacements has drastically decreased following former manager Fernando Santos’ move to Besiktas.
Nevertheless, the ex-Brighton and Sunderland boss insists he will give it his all for Greece until the very last day of his contract, even though EPO are in “not much hurry”.
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Poyet told SunSport on behalf of William Hill when asked if his contract runs out in March: “Yes, that’s exactly the length of my contract. My contract finishes on the 31st of March.
“There have been too many rumors about the possibility of renewing, but right now 16th of January, 12:06pm UK time [the time of the interview] there is no offer. So I’m staying in the same position. We’ll see.
“Yes, that’s true [Greece may qualify for Euro 2024 and go to Germany without a manager]. The problem is I know because of my past in AEK [Athens] how it works. I asked not to get to the 31st of March without a contract.
“Maybe they want to wait, fair enough. I’m happy to wait in terms of that I sign a contract and I carry my responsibilities to the last minute.
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“But you know when people play with the situation, ‘If you qualify, he will go to the Euros because it doesn’t matter the money because he’s not gonna miss it’. Or the other way around, ‘If he doesn’t, he will renew cheaper or whatever’.
“I don’t like that. I want me to be considered for the manager that I’m now and I’m gonna be exactly the same manager and the same person on the 31st of March.
“The issue is out of my hands obviously. I’m just waiting. I would really like to renew before [the deadline] to close that situation where even for the players it’s a little bit strange knowing that they’re gonna be playing and they don’t know what is going to happen.
“Especially because I know that if I don’t renew after the 31st, knowing how it works in Greece, I’m going to be blamed. I don’t’ know for what, but I’m gonna be blamed, it is going to be my responsibility.
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“Normally, when you want a player, you don’t wait until the last six months or three months or two months to renew the contract. So do they want a manager? Me, I’m sorry, but the timing shows that there is not much hurry from the federation.
“So I’m just going to the end, be myself. I finished two contracts in Zaragoza. I played to the last game of the last minute and gave everything. I’m not going to change now so I’m the same, but it is a little bit uncomfortable this situation. It’s not normal. It’s not”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
