AEK Athens coach grants five-day break amid international call-ups

AEK Athens head coach Marko Nikolic has granted a five-day break to the remaining players at the Spata training center following a significant roster depletion due to the international break. A total of 13 players are currently away on national team duties, including Luka Jovic (Serbia), Lovro Majer (Croatia), and various players representing Angola, Mauritania, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Finland, and Ukraine.

In addition to the international call-ups, the squad is dealing with injuries to Rota, Varga, and Stracosio. The remaining players are scheduled to return to training on Saturday, September 26. During this hiatus, AEK is set to play friendly matches against Athens Kallithea and Panaitolikos.

Croatia national team coach Slaven Bilic expressed enthusiasm regarding Lovro Majer’s return to the national squad, noting the player's strong performances with AEK. While the club celebrates the international recognition of its players, the timing presents a challenge for Nikolic, as Majer is not expected to return to Athens until October 7, following Croatia's match against Spain, leaving him unavailable for the upcoming league game against OFI on October 10.