Alonso: “It will be difficult, but we will give our lives to stay in Europe”

Lance beat Panathinaikos 2-1 at “Felix Bollar”, in the first match between the two teams in the playoffs Conference League and the qualification to League Phase will be judged at OAKA.

At the press conference of the match, Diego Alonso he talked about what was missing from the game of the “greens” but also about what they did well, while he promised that his team will give everything in the second leg in order to qualify.

What he said in detail at the press conference:

“First of all, we were better in possession. We tried hard enough in the first half to play from the wings. In the second half we improved on this and pushed the opposition back. Essentially, we improved in recovering the ball, which is what we lacked in the phase of the second goal we conceded”.

For the dynamics and intensity that Lance brought out and not Panathinaikos:

“I think the team played well from a physical point of view. But I think we played against a team that is in the league with the best physical condition in Europe. And one of the most dynamic teams in the French league. We struggled in the first minutes in the first part of the match, so we gave them a chance to get the ball and create threatening situations for us. And in the next game we have a big challenge both tactically and physically. And that’s why we will fight.”

About Ioannidis’ goal and the importance of the OAKA being full:

“Lance has the advantage, because she won the first match. I don’t know the percentage, but now there is a difference of one goal. But we have to fight in Athens to qualify. It is impossible to guarantee you the result of the next match. What I can guarantee you is that we will give our lives to stay in Europe. Undoubtedly, having many of our fans together is important. But we cannot ask them to play in our place. We have to play for them.”

For the many crosses made:

“We definitely played with a lot of crosses. But we must learn to do this. That is, to use them to press the team and close it back. Let’s then go more one-on-one. It was the third match for Tete, the first for Pelistri, Ioannidis returns from a long absence. As time goes by, they will better understand the system and what we want to achieve.”

On whether Panathinaikos can and whether it was a penalty in the Pelistri phase:

“Regarding the penalty, I cannot give you an opinion. The referee gave it and took it back. For me it might have been a penalty, but he had a different opinion. Regarding the first part, we certainly believe so. It will be difficult, very difficult, but we believe in ourselves. Spirit, heart and character for the next match”.

For the goal scored by an individual and not a team effort:

“First of all, the opponent also plays, we don’t play alone. You know very well, since you are a French journalist, they are a dangerous team when they attack and good defensively. Lance defends very high. But today he didn’t. He defended far back. And when they were behind they went to 3-5-1, who forced them to do that. Then we tried to play our match, in the best way we could. Vertically it was difficult because there were many players. That’s why we tried to play from the outside. But we didn’t have good decisions and good finals. They defended themselves close to their hearth”.

For the problems at the ends of the defense:

“It was a mistake that could happen. Very clear mistake. But then in 11v11 we were able to search what we wanted. Before the expulsion, four times Ioannidis was hand in hand with Danso and was running towards the goal.