Former Nottingham Forest loanee Philip Zinckernagel says he left Olympiacos because he “didn’t want to play” for boss Carlos Corberan.
The Dane only joined the Greek club - who, like the Reds, are owned by Evangelos Marinakis - in June, making the move from Watford. He made seven appearances, scoring twice, before signing on loan for Standard Liege last week.
Pedro Martins had been in charge of Olympiacos when Zinckernagel put pen to paper. When he was sacked, Marinakis replaced him with the man whose Huddersfield Town side had been beaten by Forest in the Championship play-off final in May.
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“I didn't want to play for the new coach, it was his predecessor who really wanted me,” Zinckernagel told Belgian newspaper Le Soir, in a translated interview. "I couldn't see myself playing for him, which is why I decided to leave.
“If I chose Standard, it's because I know it's a great club. It hasn't had a good period recently, but it's still a great club.
“I didn't know the coach personally, but I knew his style of play. I don't think he sees me as a flank, but really as a number 10 in a 3-5-2, where I played last season, or else on the wing. I want to create a lot of chances on the pitch, that's what will help the team win games.”
Zinckernagel hopes a good run of form in Belgium, where Standard have an option to make his move permanent, could result in a World Cup call-up with his country. He said: “If I came to Standard, it was also with this goal in the back of my mind. If I play well, I have my chances but we have a lot of good players in my position.”
Zinckernagel was a key player for Steve Cooper’s side as they clinched promotion last season. On-loan from the Hornets, he made 50 appearances in all competitions and bagged seven goals.
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