Jovanovic: “Let’s be more comfortable in our game”

In the competitive and mental preparation of Panathinaikos in view of PAOK stood the Ivan Jovanovich with his statements that will be shown in the pregame of the game on Cosmote TV’s Sportshow show.

Initially, Mr Jovanovic talk about the following game:

“It is one of those games that are difficult. Difficult because PAOK may have some player absences, something that also happened to us after the last game we played, but that is the importance of the match. PAOK aims for 3rd place, we aim for the championship. So basically I think that our goal is much more important for us. But we have in front of us a team that is very tough on the pitch. Tough in every sense of the word and in terms of the tactical point of view and the ability of the players. It is a team that fights on the pitch. It is a very interesting game and it will be very strong because all these games in the playoffs do not have much difference between them, in terms of the tensions in the game. And we definitely have to be much calmer as a team, much more competitive and much better on the pitch, in order to beat opponents like PAOK”.

-For the match with AEK and the not so satisfactory image of Panathinaikos:



“Two days later, I’m standing at it again. That basically the beginning of the game, our entry into it, some important details regarding the tactical part with the way AEK exerted pressure and we knew how and in what way we had to react, were not to the extent needed. And in this way we could not control the pace of the game. For the longest time, especially in the first half, the game was a bit chaotic and at a pace that benefited AEK much more than us. And this certainly creates an insecurity and throughout the first half AEK managed to be the team that was much more stable, much more aggressive on the pitch and created dangerous situations in our home. And with the importance of this game for both teams, the psychology of the game was normal to go from AEK’s side and not from our side. And that certainly didn’t leave us satisfied.”



-On the importance of the games and the stress that all teams have and what he tries to pass on to his players, in order for them to face the games more calmly:



“The anxiety or stress we have is positive. It makes sense because we are playing for the highest goal that a team can have in the league. And many times it is very easy to say in the preparation of the game, how a match should develop, but during the game – because football is a very emotional sport and eleven players are playing – it is very difficult to have an absolute control of the feelings that a group has. So in these games, basically it’s good to have as many players as you have who are more comfortable in their movements, more comfortable with the ball, more comfortable without the ball and tactically. Because it is not only the will, we have it to a large extent and it keeps us in the position we are at this moment. But it is not always easy to manage. It’s easier to discuss than to manage this thing because you’re dealing with people and how everyone perceives the gravity of a game. All the efforts we can make, we make them, but on the other hand it is a game that is emotional. And unfortunately, on this issue – regardless of the fact that we are all professionals – it plays an important role in the match and many times you cannot control it easily. Of course, the experiences from such situations are needed both individually and as a team from such important games. Which my players and I are experiencing for the first time in the team as long as we are together. We just try in this short time, to realize the mistakes and emotions we had in the previous game and try to correct them in the next one. Let’s be as comfortable as possible in our game…”