THE Rui Vitoria expressed his belief that the Panathinaikos He can overturn his 2-0 defeat by Rangers in Wednesday (30/7, 21:00) at OAKA and qualify for the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Vitoria described the Panathinaikos game as the final and pointed out that his team was prepared for the match, while stressing that it is very important that the “greens” read the game properly and have a cool mind to do so.
The Portuguese also asked the team world to support the players, stressing that playing an opposing team at OAKA is not easy.
Vitoria’s statements
-What will be the “key” of tomorrow’s race? A quick goal or the team will have to show patience until the first and then the rest come?
“We have to read the game very well. Because if we chase a goal very hurriedly, without a clear mind and concentration, I think we will have a wrong path. On the other hand, we must not wait for the opponent to give us something, we have to chase the result, we want to score a goal. So I talked about the right reading of the game. We need to know what to do, have high concentration levels, understand that we have 90 minutes to turn the result, which we believe we can do. The more opportunities we create, the more we will put in the match and the world that can help us. The game will not only be won with the capsule we will have to find a goal. We need to have a cool mind to see how we will do it. This week the team did very good workouts. Although we finished the match with 2 goals on our backs, we have the belief that we can do it. It’s a final and we’re prepared for him. “
-For the celebration that Rangers’ friends set up in “Aibrox” as if there is no rematch and the message he wants to send to the world:
“Good question. Indeed, the game is over, you have won, you have the right to celebrate. But we’re talking about two games. We want to thank our fans who came and supported us on the pitch with a very beautiful atmosphere. What we did on the pitch give us the confidence that doing the same and a little better tomorrow we can be in the qualifying bay. We have proven that we belong to this level. Tomorrow, at our headquarters, with at least 40,000 fans who will help us a lot, we have a great deal of confidence in our potential. I expect to create many opportunities again and take advantage of them.
The message for the fans is that more than ever we need their support tomorrow, to be all one. If the atmosphere was very nice in Scotland, here we have to do it even better. We want to give our opponents a welcome, but to understand that playing in Athens is not easy for any team. “
-In Scotland the team played aggressively for 55 minutes, had opportunities that it did not use. What different will it have in OAKA? Another system, new faces?
“In the first place I would like to say that what we did in Scotland is not easy to see in a Champions League match. Going to a team at the headquarters of a good opponent and create a host of opportunities in a variety of ways. This event has proven that, if you do not take advantage of your opportunities, you often pay for this. Unfortunately we paid very expensive. The opponent with the few opportunities he made found 2 goals, so he left us a very bitter taste of the final result. Beyond that, more than changes of system or persons, the key is to have a clear play plan that exists. Many believe that we should only go aggressively, we should mainly have a defensive stability that will give players in front of security. With a goal we get stronger in the qualification game, to chase the second or even the third that will give us the qualification. “
-Are you waiting for Rangers to have a different approach to this match than the first match?
“I think many times a team plays as long as the opponent lets play. I think all the coaches have a certain way of playing, but this sometimes comes out at a satisfactory level, others do not come out because of the opponent. So what I believe is that, based on the qualitative characteristics of Rangers’ players and the coach’s profile, his approach will be up and down. Whether he will be able to play forward or a little further back will depend on the pressure we exert and where we want to steal balls. I think that in general the same principles of the game will be followed in tomorrow’s race. What I can say is that as an alternative, if they are back in the score, they may differentiate their layout and fight with 3 or 5th defense. They can do this, we are prepared. “
-Given the absence of Vagiannidis, are you thinking of doing a trick or waiting for the classic layout based on the existing right -back of the team?
“I wouldn’t want to mention it, because it will be like opening my papers. I can say that Vagiannidis is a very good footballer. But as a beginning I have to be here to … cry for players who are not at my disposal. My job is to find the best solutions with those I have available. I don’t think about it at all, I try to find the best for tomorrow’s race based on the options available. Beyond that, whoever comes in place will be prepared, he will know what to do. Our job is to prepare the players with a specific game plan. Have them physically and psychologically ready. Once the match begins, things can change a lot. There are so many factors that can affect the outcome that it is interesting football. “
Panathinaikos players were represented by Palmer Brown who reported
-Having the image of the first match, what did the team do in the first match and what does it have to correct to reach the overthrow?
“I think we did a lot of things good. At the end of the day I don’t think we finished the opportunities we made and that hurt us. In the transition we could be better and stop their goals. The key is to create the same opportunities. But this is football. It’s hard, sometimes you’re unlucky. I think by doing the same opportunities, things will be better. “
-In our minds we have a “recipe” of qualifying for Panathinaikos to not score. This passes mainly on to you defenders. Have you talked to each other about how to deal with the Rangers’ transition and have seen what should be done so that the goal team does not accept?
“We have already made a good preparation. Football is a team game, we must defend and attack all together. We know what is at stake, we know that we should not accept goals and score as much as possible. With the support of our fans I am sure we will be able to do the best. “
-What did you learn from Rangers in the previous race and what fears do you have to depreciate tomorrow?
“We learned a lot. That is a team that plays well with the ball is good at 1V1, it has an aggressive approach. The substitutes played well. Of course, this is a team that makes mistakes. We have to take advantage of this and look to make the match we did in Scotland, ending the opportunities we are given and emphasizing the defense as well. “
-How did you see the first match and the batland?
“It was an amazing atmosphere. Especially for us, I think the goalkeeper of the opponent played very well. He faced the opportunities and phases we did. And I had a chance. I hope tomorrow doesn’t have such good performance. As for the atmosphere, I have friends who played in Ibrox and told me about the excellent atmosphere the stadium has. “
-The score is 2-0 and the team should attack. At the same time with your defensive duties, you should also help in the offensive. Are you mentally and physically ready to deal with the pressure that will exist to qualify?
“We have to be ready, this is our time. All this week we are optimistic, we will play at our headquarters in front of our fans. We will give it all, we know the expectations. We have to play at a really high level, our opponent is good. We have to do our best and give what we have. I know that our goal is to score three goals so that we can qualify. “
-You had some friends who played in Scotland. What did they tell you?
“Indeed, one of the players who spoke was Jim Jeko. He was telling me about Scottish football. He told me that he is a good team that always chases the victory. The second player you mentioned is a good friend, we talked more about personal issues. I know all his way, he loves Scotland and he likes to talk a lot about it. “