Jovanovic: “I was unfair last year with Lodingin – We have the best goalkeeper duo in Greece”

His press conference was full of important remarks Ivan Jovanovich after the emphatic 4-0 of Panathinaikos against OFI for the 13th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League.

The Serbian coach, after overemphasizing that his team was looking for its reaction in tonight’s match, after the two unsuccessful results against Aris and Villarreal, referred to the performance of his players, took stock of the presence of the “clover” in Greece and Europe, expressing his satisfaction, while he closed by talking about the transfer moves of the team and the work being done in this part.

Finally, he made a special reference to the goalkeepers of Panathinaikos, underlining that the “greens” have the best duo in Greece, while he expressed the opinion that last season he was unfair to Yuri Lodigin!

Details of what Ivan Jovanovic said at the press conference of the match against OFI:

If he expected such a performance after Panathinaikos’ European match: “Usually after the European games we play good matches. We come from a week that was not good for us with the defeat in Thessaloniki and against Villarreal. It was an important game and against a team that in the last two years we had problems at home with two draws. OFI is a team that needs attention, it is wronged by its ranking position. We were bound to win, based on the week we had. It satisfies me that after two results that were not good for us, we are a team with a lot of patience in our game. Our team was not stressed, it was a good game”

For Aitor and Vilena: “And the rest of the players played a good game. Surely we all expect a lot from Vilena. He is a very good midfielder. It’s just that in football they always get into the team’s style of play a little earlier, others need more time. He needed a game like that, he had a good game against Villarreal too from the moment he came on. We live him every day in training, we know what quality he has. Such a game will always work positively, even though he is an experienced football player. Aitor is one of the children who needs more time than the rest due to his long absence. Two games in three days with good performances. He was certainly not at the level he can be, but they were good performances and we expect him to return to his standard.”

If he is satisfied with Panathinaikos so far in Greece and Europe: “I am satisfied because for me and for the players it is the first year that we have obligations usual for a big team. The European matches, the summer qualifiers, the Champions League, the championship. We could do more, we have the potential. We could have done more, especially in the European games. The details were also some mistakes that cost us from making better games than I expected. It is also important in the moments when we don’t get results, that it doesn’t take us away from something. Which is a good element of the team. We will fight for our goals until the end. A game like today always helps after results we didn’t want. Today was one of the games where the team’s performance throughout the 90 minutes was good and this can definitely help us for the rest of the game.”

If Panathinaikos winning these games is key for the championship: “In Greece, every time we have to find something to blame for one team. The championship in Greece is very long in terms of duration and number of matches. We have 26 in the regular season and another ten in the playoffs which are derbies. Very big number, all games matter. In Europe again we are a team that has to push itself in terms of the Europa League and the rest of the goals we have. I’m not one of those people who looks differently at a win or a loss. It’s the same for me. At the end of the league we should be where we are. We may be finishing the first round in first place, but we know that it means nothing. There is a long way to go. The important thing is that the team has more stability in its performance and is ready to face the weeks when we will have too many games in a short period of time. Players ready and willing to win games.”

If Panathinaikos makes an additional transfer other than a stopper: “What we need right now is a position in the central defenders, due to the injuries. But as a team with goals that we have, there is a whole mechanism that works at the moment. It is something that is done in many groups, especially large ones. This thing doesn’t stop. It’s something that both you and the fans like. Mr. Papadimitriou with his staff and with the discussions he has with the management and with me, we always look at the cases of players who may be of interest. And in the long run and not just today. What we have today and is burning us right now, is in defense. The losses of Magnuson and Palmer-Brown give us a problem. There are footballers who don’t rest at all or change positions.”

To manage in the goalkeeper position: “It’s not easy because to be honest, last year with Yuri I was also unfair. He had only won games in the Cup. And last year was the same as it was this year. This year already he has played quite a few games, I have no doubt or opinion whether Yuri or Brignoli is playing. I think we are the team with the best goalkeeper duo. It is not easy to manage because they are both personalities, with careers behind them. We have enormous confidence in them. It’s really not easy. Well done to Mr. Moudakis who works with them. And to Xenopoulos. They work very hard, they are good with each other. They all know very well how much we all believe in them. I am lucky that they themselves understand the pot conditions they are working in, we are a big team, there are a lot of games and they have to be ready. It is not a figure of speech but they themselves never know before the games if they will play. I am happy to have them both in the team. They are good kids and they give us their best.”