Panathinaikos’ last four games in the Super League Interwetten and the Greek Cup (with Atromitos, PAS Giannina, Volos and Aris) have been accompanied by a performance that the “Greens” have not caught up with in any other part of the previous quarter season.

The “zero” passive in the back, which, especially in the last three games, has the “seal” of the two best stoppers who currently have the “Klee” squad, Fran Veleth and Bart Senkefeld. The duo that Ivan Jovanovic had in mind as the basic choice since the beginning of last summer but he had to wait to see it in action … in the 2021 final due to the Dutchman’s left ankle surgery and his late (again ) Inclusion in the Panathinaikos game plan.

The Spaniard was there from the start, switching two partners – Achilles Pougouras and Zvonimir Sarlia (in most games in October and November) – and waiting for “Senke” to return to find the back … chemistry. Yes, “chemistry”, because so … unlikely it may seem, together with the feeling that the two must have played some … 30 arias as a basic central defense duo, the Spaniards and the Dutch Stopper, only had until this year’s meeting Played together 9 (!) Times in defense … Only 9! And in them – I say a game plan and from the beginning a false central idea from Danny Pogiatos and Laszlo Bolloni – there were cases in which one … overturned the other.

Only 9 times together as a duo

Last year Panathinaikos played 36 official league games (26 in the regular season and 10 in the playoffs) and 2 in the cup (the games of the … disaster with PAS Giannina). Of these, Veleth and Schκεnkefeld only existed side by side in 16 games due to injuries, cards, penalties and training plans. And of these 16 games, the 30-year-old Spanish defender was recruited as a defensive midfielder (net “6ari”) in 7 (in Bologna) due to the absence at the time, with Senkefeld Puguras having most of the time at his side.

While Pogiatos “ate” Panathinaikos for about a month, until … the -completely immature state of a men’s team- then his coach understood who was best suited to each of the two. Who could play as a right winger and who could play as a left back. You can say “details”, but even that, as “small” as it may seem, is a very basic element of the balance of a team aiming to build attacks from low yards with the necessary ball pass for a long time from the Feet of their plugs.

The … singles from Pogiatos

Pogiatos decided to play it … alone. At AEL (3rd game, 1: 1, when the two of them lived together in the team for the first time) Veleth is on the right, Senkefeld on the left.

With Aris (1-0 defeat in OAKA), right-back Schinkefeld, Veleth on the left. Again the other way around (with Sylaidopoulos on the bench) in the away game 2-2 at OFI, again on the right Senkefeld and on the left Veleth at Bologna in the home defeat against Atromitos (1-0). Again … turn the data with AEK (2: 1 win at the hosts “yellow-black”) and … individually return to the championship (2: 0 win) with PAS Giannina on the avenue. And when the two had started to find a relevant “communication code”, the problems with the cards began, the minor injuries, but also the forced transfer of the Spaniard to midfield. A permanent … Tourloumpouki, not only in competition, but also in training …

Jovanovic’s “Reading”

This year Jovanovic “read” it and above all prepared the … project at an early stage. With the confirmation of Schönefeld’s return to action, which gave him the first 12 minutes of participation in the game with Atromitos on the 11th (already “finished” in terms of victory) – it was from the beginning and … finally. Schönefeld stopper on the right and Veleth on the left. And he went to this both in the next game with PAS Giannina (2: 0), as well as in the cup rematch with Volos (0: 0), but even more in the three days before (05/01) emphasized dominance Aris on Avenue with 2-0. In the most important crash test until the next …

The three reasons for “Veeth links”

Jovanovic’s choice of who plays is not random, but was made for three very specific reasons:

1. Veleth uses his left foot much better than “sink”. Both for local transfers and when moving. He can generally play better with the left, although it is not his “good” foot and certainly more confidently than the Dutchman if he takes the ball and opens his controls on the left.

2. Veleth had a rhythm of successive games, Schenkefeld again not … And the last thing Jovanovic wanted to do with the Dutch stopper was … from seven months. He stepped in and played where he felt more comfortable and secure from the start to regain his confidence and footsteps on the field.

3. Because of his language, Veleth can communicate with Juankar much more directly and effectively on the left. In collaborations, in ball openings, in covers, in everything … Communication plays a major role, especially when important decisions have to be made within a few seconds.

To support one another

Not only did the Spaniard not frown at his move to the left full-back (a little more “uncomfortable” is the truth), but he took his role and the responsibility his coach had entrusted even more seriously.

He supported Schinkefeld from the first minutes of his return, worked and works even more intensively with him in training (which Jovanovic was looking for from the first moment with targeted tactical exercises) and began to develop a very good communication code with him.

For the good of the entire game of the team, which has significantly improved its suspension function overall, but with the two special features in the back, everyone now feels safer, calmer and more balanced. Both in the balls that come out of the air, as well as in the lower meters, where one begins and complements the other in speed, perception and efficiency …