2024-08-07 08:10:36
The latter started the match by washing their opponents under the coldest water – 10 minutes after the referee’s first whistle, the score was 0:2. 3 minutes Israeli captain Doras Peretz scored, and 7 minutes later. the lead was doubled by his namesake, Doras Turgenman. After such a shock, Panevėžys had to find their own game, they were forced to fight back more often, instead of trying to create something dangerous.
However, in the second half, we saw a completely different Lithuanian team – they actively pressed, created chances and resembled the team that defeated the Finnish champion, Helsinki HJK, without much difficulty. The football gods appreciated the effort and 70 min. Sivert Gussias reduced the deficit of Panevėžys. They got a second chance to equalize, but Maccabi’s defense held their own.
Two different levels of quality in the quarters were also noted by Panevėžio’s manager. coach Stijn Vreven, who spoke very angrily about the first 10 minutes at the press conference after the match, but was a little more lenient about the second half of the match.
“The performance of the team had two faces in this match. The beginning was really dramatic. If you’re 0-2 down after 10 minutes, you’re doing something wrong and you’re not ready to play in that kind of match against that kind of opponent, especially at this level. We conceded goals very easily. I said it to the students, so I can say it here too – I take full responsibility for everything that happens in the match.
But even when the tactics are complete rubbish, we can’t concede two goals in 10 minutes. It’s too easy because the energy level is still full, so it can defend at full capacity. Desire, heart and passion must be at their highest point at that time. It has to be if you want to play in a match of this level. When you concede two goals in 10 minutes, you lose confidence and it becomes very difficult to compete. That’s exactly what you saw in the first half of the match. We didn’t have confidence in ourselves, we lost control of the ball too easily, even if we just won it back. It was really hard.
Despite that, at least for me, the second half of the match was the complete opposite. Sometimes it’s a strange thing – when you feel you have nothing to lose, you gain more confidence, you create better chances against your opponent. That’s what we were. We executed our tactics and moved well with the ball, creating more chances. The Maccabi guys were more tired, so we controlled the game, we looked much more solid. I also think that the players who entered the field after the substitutions brought additional energy and quality to the team.
We scored a good goal, we could have evened the score. It is necessary to mention that in the second part of the match, goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas saved us from one hundred percent chance of the opponents. We are still alive,” the Belgian strategist assessed the performance of his students.
Looking back at the poor first half, the 51-year-old S. Vreven emphasized both the pressure on the pitch and its false surface.
“I knew that Maccabi was a quality team that moved well with the ball,” the coach began. – But they were even better on synthetic grass, and they weren’t impressed with our pressing. The opponents easily kept the ball under pressure, showing their class. When playing on such a surface, everything happens much faster, which is why we had a lot of problems.
We also put high pressure on their keeper on clearances, but every time a Maccabi player received the ball, which I really didn’t like. At the same time, I look at myself in the mirror – was it wise to make such a decision in a match not on real grass? It’s easy to talk after everything. During the half-time break, we changed our pressing strategy a bit and from then on we started to play better, with more belief. In this way, we forced the Israeli champions to make mistakes more often. It is true that the smoother performance was not only due to the controlled pressure, because the opponents were already extremely tired. Despite everything, the truth lies in the middle.”
About the synthetic coating Mr. coach S. Vrevens speaks for a reason – “Aukštaitijas” (past ed. – “Panevėžys” home field) stadium with natural grass has the second category, so there is no possibility to hold any matches of the third stage of the European qualifying competition. The club chose to play in Vilnius, at the stadium of the Lithuanian Football Federation.
The fans from Panevėžys, who did not host on their home field, lacked the support of the fans, but the Belgian did not even get involved in such talks.
“Yes, it is difficult,” answered S. Vreven when asked if it is difficult to play European matches away from the home stadium. – True, this factor loses its meaning against the current opponent, because they don’t play at home either. I’m not a fan of that. I know that even though we don’t have 10 thousand. spectators at the “Aukštaitija” stadium, the atmosphere in the match against HJK Helsinki was still good. It gives energy to energy players.
But we cannot make excuses. We have to understand that from this stage on, we will no longer play in Panevėžys. We had some support from our fans today, it lifted the players. I think they did their best, but it wasn’t enough. I repeat, I’m not making excuses, we have to deal with it. In the next selection step, maybe we will play in Kaunas, maybe somewhere else, I don’t know… But not here anymore.”
In the first half of the match, one of the team’s leaders – Ernestas Veliulis – was forced to be replaced due to an injury. When asked about the seriousness of his injury, the “Panevėžys” strategist was not positive, and at the same time reported on another injured pupil.
“I think I replaced Lucas de Vega in a very timely manner. However, E.Veliulis’ injury is much more serious, S.Vreven said. – It is already clear that he will not be able to play on Sunday (“TOPsport A League” match against Vilnius “Žalgiris”). After them, we will have to monitor the injury situation day by day. We still need to do an ultrasound to know more.”
The newest member of the Aukštaitija team debuted in this meeting. Belgian Amine Benshaib, who appeared on the pitch after the substitution, had already worked with the current manager of Panevėžys once in his career. According to the latter, the second time started on a really good note.
“I’m very happy because a footballer has only one chance to make a good first impression, and he did it very well. A.Benshaib felt good with the ball, and when he entered the field, he brought more football intelligence with him. I was pleased with the Belgian’s movement both with and without the ball. Of course, the performance could have been better, but he still needs to get used to our team’s philosophy of play.
The same applies to Frederico Palacios, but we already knew what he was capable of,” S. Vreven praised the players who appeared on the pitch.
Finally, the 51-year-old previewed the teams’ upcoming meeting on August 15 at 9 p.m. 30 min., in Hungary, in the city of Sombathey.
“The match will be different because we will play on a natural surface. A completely different match plan will be required. As for the respect (Maccabi coach at the press conference expressed great respect to the Panevians for their solid performance in the second half – ed.), it’s good because we really controlled the ball more often and with more confidence. I’ll say it again – the next meeting will be tough as hell.
Maccabi also have high-class players on the bench. For example, the strikers who started this game from the start were not the ones I imagined at the start. That means there are a lot of quality footballers out there, especially with everyone coming back from the Olympic tournament. But we believe in all the chances we have. Even if it is 10, 20 or 50 percent. a chance, I don’t know… We believe in those chances, especially after a good performance in the second half. Everything is possible only if you believe in it”, concluded S. Vreven full of hope.
We remind you that the draw for the fourth qualifying round of European tournaments was made on Monday. Should Panevėžys win against the Israeli champions, they would face Serbia’s TSC Bačka Topola in the next UEFA Europa League qualifying round. However, a place in the groups of the UEFA Europa Conference League would already be secured.
If Panevėžys lost against Maccabi, the loser of Hinchesi’s Petrocub (Moldova) and Osvertri’s The New Saints (Wales) would be waiting for them in the final qualifying round of the UEFA European Conference League.
2024-08-07 08:10:36