Jovanovic: “We will strengthen the stoppers in January – Important win with the way the match developed”

He announced transfer reinforcement in the center of the defense Ivan Jovanovic! His technician Panathinaikou after his team’s victory in Lamia by a score 1-2emphasized that the “clover” will move to acquire a central defender in the January transfer window due to the problems that have arisen with injuries.

Among other things, Ivan Jovanovic underlined that based on the image of the match, the victory of Panathinaikos is very important in the economy of the league, he added that Lamia played very well, while also referring to Arao’s celebration with Mladenovic on the first goal of the Serb.

In detail what he said:

For the victory in Lamia: “Today the truth is that we faced a very good team on a day that we did not play our best. Lamia took advantage of it. He claimed the result. There were several phases in the game and for the viewers it was a good game. But today we got the victory in a game that, maybe, after Arao was sent off, it seemed more difficult, but in the end we scored and achieved a very important victory. We have to learn from these games that we must always have our performance at a higher level so that the development is not the same as today. The opponent was very good and could take advantage of the slightest mistake. For me the match was not easy at all. It was a very important victory and especially with the way the game developed”.

On changes, rotation and how hard it is to manage: “Management is not difficult. It has been proven in many matches so far that the changes we make from match to match help us. Today was the first time, maybe, that can happen in football, we weren’t as pressing as we should have been and based on the quality of the game it wasn’t a good day. In no way do I want to reduce the opponent’s game. I believe that today Lamia may have played one of their best games in the league”.

For the absences in the defense and the chances of a system change: “If we’re talking purely about the systems, I think it’s better to avoid it, because it’s not the system that will give you the games. There are variations. There is a problem with the stoppers. Magnuson misses year, Palmer needs time. We hope to pass this period with consecutive games in Greece and Europe and manage it. We should, perhaps, sacrifice some other players in another position. So far we are OK, I hope it continues until the end of the first round, because in January we will need to strengthen the squad with a player there”.

For Arao and Mladenovic and their celebration today: “Football for me and certainly for everyone who lives in the locker room is an emotional sport, sometimes there are more nerves. Is normal. It happens in all groups in the world, but there must be some limits. Whatever happens on the field, must not damage the image of the team. Yes, they both made a mistake, they admit it, but the image remained to teach us that we are in Panathinaikos, which has a huge crowd, prestige and these should be avoided. There is no issue between the players, there never was. Something happened and if someone reflects on what happened today, they will understand that it was a small episode that spoiled us all and it should not happen again.”.