Senkefeld: “I’m very happy for Aitor”

He is not the type to talk much, but when he does, his words have double and triple value and meaning. After all, he deserves it, as he is now the “oldest” player of this generation of Panathinaikos players (along with Vassilis Xenopoulos, but also Zeka, who has returned) and is now in his fifth year at the club.

the captain” Bart Schenkefeld He was very fair at “Ceramica” after the game of Panathinaikos against Villarreal and analyzed the football, what he and the rest of the “Trefoil” players did correctly and what not, knowing the 3-2 defeat in a game, that should have an overall picture of performance, having used and received a little more.

“We started quite well and were in control in the first few minutes, but after conceding the first goal we lost something as a team. We pressed more intensively in the second half. And if you drive this team with intensity and efficiency, they make mistakes.

If you give her time, she plays very good football. But if you put pressure on them, they will make mistakes. That’s why our intensity was higher in the second half and that’s why we had the chances and they made so many mistakes.” first emphasized the Dutch central defender and added about the “final” character that the game with Maccabi Haifa has now taken on, for a place in the knockout round for a place in the “16” of the Europa Conference League: “We all know very well how we have to win this particular game. And that is our goal.”

Schenkefeld was also asked about Panathinaikos’ reaction in the last 30-35 minutes and whether this was a good “path” and the way for the “Cloverleaf” to return to victories after two consecutive defeats in Greece and Europe. And he was completely clear.

“I think we have to start our games from the start with the intensity that we showed and achieved in the second half. We played better there as a team and were more balanced against them. If you let them play, they have the quality and they don’t need a lot of chances to score.

They have quality. So that is always the “key” in our game. The volume! Because as you’ve seen, when we play like that, we’re evenly matched against these teams.”

As for Juancar’s return after a month and a half of absence, but also Aitor’s first very good performance after his full integration into the team rotation after cruciate ligament surgery last year? There was also the only moment when his frowning face smiled:

“It’s great that Juancar is back, that Aitor has come back well and is getting back to his playing time. He will slowly regain his confidence. I’m really happy for him because he came in so well and played so well in this game.” “.