Jovanovic: “We are Panathinaikos – Huge disappointment, we are not going to underestimate Europa”

What Ivan Jovanovic said in detail at the press conference:

On whether the qualification was decided on the ineffectiveness of Panathinaikos and the effectiveness of Braga and whether the team can handle the disappointment:

“There is huge disappointment, because there was a huge thirst to take the team to the Champions League. The game was judged more on making the right decisions. There were enough chances to score and in this way we were more comfortable and free. If we could play better? Probably yes, you can always do more. The truth is that we limited Braga, maybe if we had better decisions. It will certainly not be easy to manage, because we all wanted to qualify for the groups and certainly after such a game the disappointment is much greater».

On whether Panathinaikos can distinguish themselves in the Europa League based on the dynamics they have shown:

“We are not going to underestimate the organization, we are a serious team. However, from the moment we had the Champions League qualifiers in front of us, we gave everything. Perhaps the most important thing is that through the effort we filled the stadium and had such support. I hope we have them with us in the Europa League as well. They are competitive groups with very big European teams, it will definitely take a lot of seriousness and effort there as well. We will have time to discuss it. What we are left with today is a normal disappointment, because we could not take Panathinaikos to the Champions League».

On whether the experiences with Marseille and Braga will help the team in the league:

“They will definitely help us, it makes sense. It is the first year for all of us that we will also have Europe during the season, for me it is very important these days to be able to find calmness and mood again, excitement with the players. Because it is perfectly normal to have a difficult day for all of us. Football, however, does not stop here, we have obligations, the demands will be much greater. Football, however, being an emotional sport, is not always easy to determine in advance. Sometimes you have to express yourself. There is a disappointment but I think we will soon be in very high spirits as we have been all season to claim all our goals».

On how much the suspension of the national teams can help psychology and whether he sees the glass as half full or half empty so far:

“As the coach of the team, the most important thing I see is the way the players work. The mood, the goal, the stubbornness to do some beautiful things, which can be left behind. We are a very serious team. The break might help us to rest more psychologically, because all these six games were very important and there was a lot of pressure. We have several international players who will not be with us during this period. It is not an easy period, half the team will stay here. Maybe this period will help us calm down and readjust our immediate goals as far as the Europa League and the championship are concerned. It will take us some time. We could be in the Champions League group. I can’t have any complaints from my players. Half empty or half full is not a correct comparison. In this process we were helped by some things that today I think were against us. We are satisfied with the way our team dealt with the opponents in all these games. With so much courage and audacity, for all of us it is the first year that we are fighting for such a big goal. This gives us great optimism for the path ahead. All the European matches we will give will have the same elements. I am very pleased with the team and my players, their mood all this time. I am happy to be the coach of this team, that we can always look for our responsibilities at whatever level we are at. Either in the battle of the Champions League, or the Europa League, or the championship. This means health, a team that knows what it wants, what shirt it wears, all this gives us joy. The word half empty or half full does not suit us. We tried, we failed. We should restart as soon as possible».

For this team’s return to normality and jumps:

“Yes yes, this is the reality. Through this whole process over the last two years, always pushing ourselves to do more, it seems to be working for us. We put a lot more pressure because we are chasing targets earlier than we expected. It’s a matter of how many people think you can do it. How many people can you drag into this effort by taking responsibility. All that has been done in two years is not easy because we put more pressure than necessary. But it was effective. And for that reason we probably had 65,000 fans. We are Panathinaikos, we have no other choice. We have many responsibilities. I am happy because the pressure we have as a team is something completely normal and connected to its size and the number of its fans.

At this level, errors should be minimal. Because the quality of these teams is such that it does not forgive mistakes. In some matches we were effective, in others not. Some effortless mistakes that might not have been so dangerous in the championship, here seemed dangerous. Braga didn’t have many phases until our player was sent off, we just have to see the goal we conceded, it was again a quick play after our own attack. There was a quick counter attack and we conceded the goal. I think we should reduce the mistakes even more either in positioning, or in how we perceive the game, when we act more with the heart and less with the mind. At this level it is dangerous. That’s where we have to focus, especially on the goals we conceded in the matches against Braga, especially the last two goals. We should not accept them».

On whether the forced substitution of Jedvai during the match was worth it:

“Certainly when there are forced changes the possibility of further strengthening is limited. It was a forced change of a player who had been very positive up to that point. But I don’t think that was our point. We had the conditions and the opportunities. If only we made better decisions or were more accurate. And after Braga’s goal we had two or three good chances to get back into the match but we didn’t do it. It happens. My players tried until the end. I think we did ourselves wrong, we lacked something today. We will settle for the Europa League, but I can’t help but be happy with the effort and the way we worked to offer Panathinaikos something very important. It would be ideal to forget today very quickly, but we are facing a new reality».