Alonso: “I’m here for titles and they are not won in October” – What he replied about Vagiannidis

For tomorrow’s match between Panathinaikos and Borac in Bosnia in the context of its 1st matchday League Phase of the Conference League spoke at the regular press conference o Diego Alonso.

The coach of the “trefoil” answered about the pressure his team receives in the first half of the games, when he would determine when he would see the Panathinaikos he dreams of, the management of the lineup in view of Borats and Olympiakos, while he also answered about the exclusion of Vagiannidis from the mission to the matches with AEK and Borats.

In detail what Panathinaikos coach Diego Alonso said at the press conference:

On the fact that Panathinaikos is under pressure at the beginning of the games and to what extent this worries him: “It is true that several matches were difficult in the first part. We can read this situation in different ways. The clear and primary thing is that we have to improve the way we play in the first half. The conclusion is that in the second half we have more energy and he can play better. Our physical condition and our football technique allow us to play the way we want. It’s a matter of confidence. Trust is earned by working and giving confidence to the players so that they become better. There is too much pressure. Know that we do everything with intensity. This happens in the big teams but we are used to it.

I will tell you what happens to me. For me, pressure is my girlfriend. I was born in a humble neighborhood in Uruguay and my pressure from a child was to get out of my family to help them. I’ve had pressure since I was a little kid. Pressure was not my enemy but my friend and it helped me become better. And that will help us get better. We must have peace of mind to move forward. I am here to advance a project. Projects don’t start and finish in three months. We have to work, solve the problems and implement the project. I will always be demanding with the players and give them the confidence they need.”

For the image of the team and when we will see the Panathinaikos that he dreams of: “As I said before, I was hired to execute a project. We have a specific path. We know the way. I was definitely brought here for headlines and here I am. Titles are won in May and June. Not now or in December. For this we will work very hard knowing all the obstacles we have in our way. I will take responsibility for the previous fifteen years because I am part of the club. We all have to work together. We must always be a good team. But when we know the way, surely things will be easier”

For the management of the lineup in view of Borats and Olympiakos: “I have a lot of good players on my roster and the best will always play. I have very good players. Who will be the main ones? I have a lot of players, anyone can play. Those who meet the requirements and do what I want, will be the main ones”

For the development of the team and the improvement needed: “We have two situations. I answered the first one. Confidence. If one does not transmit this trust, the players cannot play as they should. We changed the way we started the game, we showed where we are going. We know we have to improve and help the players. The most important thing is that the player feels that he can. My demands are high, I set them hard because I want the best. When we break the thoughts, we will be much better. Building a team takes time and we are in that process”

For Vaiannidis: “The answer must be given by the club and not me”.