These are difficult weeks for Pantelis Hatzidiakos. The AZ central defender does play every game, but is whistled by some of the own fans. “That hurts a lot, but I keep getting up,” says 25-year-old Hatzidiakos.
“I have the ambition to take a step,” says Hatzidiakos after AZ lost 2-1 on a visit to Vitesse† The central defender is a fixed value with the Alkmaarders and recently also with the Greek national team. “We have to see what will happen.”
Hatzidiakos is in his twelfth year in Alkmaar service. “It would be difficult for me to leave AZ, but I also have ambitions as a player. Then you want new incentives and a new environment. I think that will be very good for me.”
So it could well be that Hatzidiakos will play his last match in the AZ shirt against Vitesse next Sunday. The Alkmaarders will then have to work to be active in Europe next year. Yesterday, AZ lost 2-1 to Vitesse in Arnhem, so that only a win is enough for a place in the second preliminary round of the Conference League.