They give the match of the year Panathinaikos and AEKwho face each other at Leoforo (30/4, 20:00) with the goal of first place in Stoiximan Super League.
THE Ivan Jovanovich made statements to COSMOTE TV ahead of the match, talking about the great effort his team has made so far and what he expects from the derby with AEK.
We remind you that in view of the derby pregame on the show Sports show it will be two hours long and most of it will, understandably, concern the big game of the Avenue.
The Serb’s statements to COSMOTE TV in detail:
“It is a very important game for both teams, which from the beginning of the league were high in the standings. Now after these, the last results, we are left with the two teams that will fight for the championship and from this point of view it is definitely a very important match.
Now if we can expect something different from AEK, in my opinion with the importance of the game and how well each team knows the other, I don’t think there is much that can be changed in terms of their style of play two groups. There may be some details in terms of tactics, but not to a very, very large extent because I think it is very difficult at this moment in the championship and based on the importance of the match to have huge changes. Because it is not very easy for someone to take risks with many changes on the play style.
If there are some details, I still don’t know how important a role they can play in the outcome of such a game.”
On whether he expects a game a little more open, like the first of the season at Leoforos, or more “closed”, like the next two at OPAP Arena: “It is a bit difficult to answer because the first game was at our home, while the next two were at the home of AEK. I would say that all the games had some similar “ingredients”, they were played on an open field. There were alternating periods when one team or the other could control the game. There weren’t too many phases in all these games, and in all of them the details played a role. I don’t think this game will be any different from the previous games.”
On the fact that when the year started he had said that “I will be satisfied if the team finishes in one of the top two positions in the standings” and that he achieved this even if it brings less stress and pressure now: “To be honest with you, at the beginning of the season I didn’t even have options to set a different goal. What could I say as the coach of Panathinaikos, since last year we achieved the goals we had, that is to secure a European ticket and the Greek Cup. So I couldn’t repeat the same goals we had in the previous season. And in my placements I set the maximum goal, which was reasonable to have in this team. However, our course during the year – which football has this thing – “forced” us from the beginning to fight for the highest goal we have. For the championship.
We have the same pressure as AEK. This does not change, because we have been experiencing it since the beginning of the year, making a very good first round. And this very good first round gave us the opportunity to claim it until the end. We are a team that has quite a lot of stability in the league and we have the same pressure. We’re used to it, it’s a nice pressure because you’re fighting for the highest goal in a year. And it is also pleasant, because it gives value to all of us, it gives value to the team.
We have enormous help and faith from the fans of Panathinaikos, who have been very enthusiastic about us for a long time, about a year. And in the difficult times he was with us and now he is with us. So it is a normal “life” for Panathinaikos. We may have “returned” a little earlier than we expected, but we live it with all the “air” that the championship has. And I think it is completely normal that both we and AEK live this championship in the same way. This can also be seen with the results in the playoffs. It’s beautiful, it’s nice and we’re happy to be here and we want to achieve more and more things.”
Source: Sport Fm
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