Jovanovic: “Ready to fight for the championship – Huge difference from last year, I’m proud”

Ready to fight to the end to win the championship is the Panathinaikosas Ivan clarified Jovanovic.

Speaking at the press conference, afterwards the “extinguished” victory over Atromitos in Peristeri with 2-0the Serbian technician pointed out that the “clover” has done huge strides forward as this is also reflected by the +19 compared to last year.

While he did not fail to stand by the impetus he gives to Panathinaikos world throughout the season, but also the difficulties that the “greens” have in front of them.

What Jovanovic said in detail:

On whether the team is ready to claim the championship until the end: “We are ready. We are ready to fight. Of course we want it. We always respected our opponents. I think it’s a good year. Now the championship actually starts due to the differences between the teams in the first places. It may have started 2-3 weeks ago for all of us, but for formal reasons it starts next week. We had some issues regarding today’s match. It wasn’t so much the cards, but we had an issue with Sporar. One small problem and we couldn’t take the risk. It’s a busy year because of the World Cup. The preparations were different, which was not something usual for us. I can say that we are fine now. We have a good roster and we know what awaits us. We know he will have difficulties and we want to stay in this position. I believe in the team and I think we have the enthusiasm and the will to fight very hard to maintain this position until the end of the league.”

For Bernard and the others who were left out: “Bernard this week had a health problem. Fortunately they went well and from the beginning of the week he will start training. I think we count him in for the start of the playoffs. Bart who had a suspension due to the cards will be too. Sarlia had a knee problem today. We don’t know what he has yet, but I don’t think it’s something that will keep him out for long. At least these are the first indications we have. We will know in the next two days.”

For Sporar: “I believe he will be ready for the start of the playoffs. It was a matter that came up at the last minute. These things can happen in football. There were some minor annoyances. Although he himself was in the mood, we chose to protect him. We have a game and then there’s a break. Then there are back-to-back games. We have to have as many good footballers as possible.”

For the team’s progress compared to last year: “It is the essence of this year, if someone wants more objectively and without the tension from the beginning of the year and with the first round we did. The difference compared to last year of 19 points in a football sense is huge, it is essentially six more wins. This is what satisfies us all. We knew from the beginning and based on the image we had in previous years, from the moment the playoffs are played, it must be close to 60 points. Olympiacos usually finished the regular season with 65 points, it was a huge difference from the start and for that reason I am proud. It is not an easy thing to make such a difference in one year. Last year it was a good competitive progress, but this year I can’t ignore how important the world is, who from the beginning of the year by being by our side, pushed us in this direction and here we are, ten games before the end, fighting for the championship”.

For Ioannidis: “There is no doubt that Fotis has prospects and a rare talent. But it also has weaknesses, it’s part of our job. Results are important but we also want to improve the weaknesses of our players. Because he is an intelligent child, Fotis works hard, compared to last year more, he understands his position better. He is much more unpredictable. It helps the team in addition to developing. There are no Greeks who star, he has a lot to correct, he himself is vindicated by working like this and with his appearances, whether he comes from the bench or is a starter. No one guarantees your future in football and for that he works hard because he knows that the responsibilities are much greater. We will be here to help him and the rest is up to him.”