Alonso: “We weren’t given a clear penalty – We deserved a two-goal lead at half-time”!

The referee also stood at the press conference after the final of the derby Diego Alonso! His technician Panathinaikouwhich in his statements to Cosmote TV immediately after the end of the match at OAKA with Olympic he said that “the referee kept stopping the match»referred to Retsu’s phase, talking about a clear penalty, while he emphasized that at half-time his team should have been ahead with a two-goal difference!

From there on he explained what changed in the second half and the performance of the “greens” fell, he underlined that “we suffered from the departure of Ioannidis»while pointing out that with such a face, Panathinaikos will celebrate several victories.

Diego Alonso’s press conference in detail:

Before this matchday, Panathinaikos was 6 points away from the top and now 7, while they did not win another derby. What is your feeling about this development and the match?

“What you said is correct, it is an analysis. What exactly is your question?».

How do you see the team from now on, after the gap to the top has grown and you haven’t won another derby.

“First of all let me tell you that the team had a very good first half. We deserved to have a difference of two goals in the first half. In the second we suffered from the departure of Ioannidis and there was a clear penalty in favor of my team, which the referee did not whistle. No doubt if I analyze I will tell you that we deserved to win tonight’s game but the football today only gave us a point. What we must do, then, is to continue, believing in what we are capable of doing».

The truth is that Panathinaikos showed a better image in its last two games. What is it that the team lacked in both these matches and did not manage to get the victory?

“You made a correct analysis, indeed the team could not win but they improved their game. We have to continue to persevere and if we maintain the same performance as we had on Thursday or today, I think we will win quite a few matches. We can be more effective in attack, but today the team has more games at their feet and more momentum than a month ago».

After tonight’s game there is a break. What can we expect from the team in the upcoming matches? And apart from the exit of Ioannidis, what else prevented the team from doing a second half comparable to the first and do you agree that the first half was the best of Panathinaikos in your days?

“I think in the first half we had the ability to play with enough filters between the lines, but we also had a player who threatened the area, Ioannidis. This gave us the possibility to be able to threaten in two ways, because the opposing team also played their own game in the second half. As long as we had the ability to filter the balls, we became more dangerous. We missed attacking the spaces better».

In the good intervals of Panathinaikos there is a problem in the final action or decision. Do you agree with this? Is it a competitive thing or more of a mental thing because of the high pressure?

“When we analyze the whole team, the difficulty is that the central strikers can score. Tete, Djuricic and Bakasetas scored goals. In other words, we must give more quality and dynamics to the promoted players, so that they have the confidence and can score. From experience I can tell you about this particular position, that from the moment someone… breaks the wall, many goals start to be scored. We have to continue to persevere and give confidence to the players so that wall can be broken. They are big players and they will certainly offer us a lot. The three forwards we have are very good and will definitely add a plus to this team».

Although early in the league, you have already faced the three contenders. How do you see the level of competition? Do you believe in the Championship? Did you expect this level in the Greek league?

“Let me start with the second part of the question. Before I came here I knew about the Greek league and of course there are even bigger prospects. But you see that yesterday AEK, which was a pioneer, lost. Essentially, I would say that it is a very balanced league. It is true that there are 4 teams designed to fight for the title. So in answer, I will tell you that we are in these 4 and we are undoubtedly contenders for the title. We have a disadvantage, but if we play like we have in the last two games, we will definitely win a lot of games».

You know Mediliber well. Did it surprise you that he used two such young players at the same time in the second half? Did this make Olympiacos more active and mobile?

“It didn’t surprise me. It’s not the first time he puts in new players. If I’m not mistaken, last year the U19 had a very good run in Europe and they are promoting these players to the first team. What a young player gives you is often that energy».