Marcelino (OM coach, beaten 1-0 by Panathinaikos in the third preliminary round of the Champions League): “We were below the level we hoped for, especially on the offensive aspect. It’s like that. We are under construction, we had very little time to work. It’s not an excuse but it’s the reality. We came to win and now it’s next Tuesday that we have to win, by two goals. This red card, at this stage of the match, was a considerable difficulty. And the yellow taken in the first minute conditioned us. We then defended well, we tried to hold on and we were pretty solid. But they scored almost on their only chance. In attack, we were not good, especially in decision-making. We didn’t have a clear chance, except for a header from Aubameyang.
It’s like that, we have to improve, in the collective combinations and on an individual level. We will work, we will find the time, we know we have to win on Tuesday, at home. The solution is to recover, face the next match on Saturday in L1 and know that Tuesday, it will be all or nothing. Kondogbia is a midfielder, an experienced player. If I had known, I would have changed it, but we cannot replace all the informed players (the Central African took a second yellow signifying expulsion in the second half, editor’s note)… Qualification is now harder than ‘Before. But I’m still optimistic. At home, with our public, I think we have enough arguments. I still have a lot of confidence in my team.”
Statements taken at a press conference
