Panathinaikos host Czech side Hradec Kralove at the OAKA Olympic Stadium in Athens on Thursday, August 20, aiming to build a solid foundation in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff tie.
The Greek club enter the 21:30 kickoff seeking to secure their passage to the League Stage of Europe's third-tier club tournament across the two-legged tie.
Head coach Jacob Neestrup stated at his pre-match press conference that his team must focus on maintaining a high level of performance for longer periods during the game. He pointed to their display after the opening 30 minutes in Sofia as the standard they need to match, emphasizing that the squad must play with greater confidence.
Neestrup emphasized that representing a club of Panathinaikos' stature demands a winning mindset. He called on his players to show greater strength on the pitch while maintaining complete respect for Hradec Kralove, noting that the Czech team produced two very strong performances against Besiktas in the previous round. He stressed that qualification across the two matches remains the primary objective for everyone at the club.
Addressing home form and squad depth
Addressing Panathinaikos' failure to record a home victory so far this season, Neestrup described the trend as a simple coincidence. He noted that underlying statistics showed his side could have won at home already. Reflecting on earlier qualifying rounds, he said Panathinaikos could have scored more goals in their away match against Paksi before showing nerves in the return leg at home. In their fixture against CSKA 1948, Neestrup believed his side would score a second goal immediately after taking the lead and win the match, but acknowledged that their performance dropped afterwards. He stated that he wants a victory on Thursday to secure their first home win of the campaign.
Regarding midfield selection between Camara and Chirivella, Neestrup clarified that neither player is guaranteed to start on Thursday. He highlighted the hard work of Kontouris, who played well yesterday, and noted that Cerin is in his fifth season with the team, describing him as a loyal player who is fully relied upon. He added that Kangwa will join the squad options after the qualifying stage. Neestrup explained that squad depth is essential at Panathinaikos, meaning a player starting one match could be on the bench the following week, expressing satisfaction with his roster options.
Neestrup added that he operates with clear goals rather than dreams, aiming to build a consistent team that performs well continuously. He noted that he was brought in to secure immediate results with a young squad that has been together for only a short period. While acknowledging that the team is not playing perfectly yet, he expressed confidence that they will continue to improve and emphasized that securing results remains the immediate priority.
Dessers on return and European pressure
Striker Cyriel Dessers represented the playing squad at the press conference following his return from injury. Dessers described his recent lay-off as a difficult period, having arrived at the club under high expectations and starting well before being sidelined. He said he worked hard to make a quick comeback and noted that scoring on his return was only the beginning. Dessers expressed gratitude for the support received from fans and teammates, stating it was time to repay that backing on the pitch. He warned that European ties are demanding because teams face the top clubs from each country, but maintained that the outcome depends on Panathinaikos' own performance.
Dessers also addressed the pressure surrounding European qualification, stating that players naturally want to participate in high-stakes matches. He urged the squad to accept the pressure and channel it positively. Dessers noted that Panathinaikos have shown good spells in matches so far but must extend those periods while exercising greater responsibility on the ball. He acknowledged that failure in the tie would result in European elimination, reiterating that the squad understands the importance of the matches and must use the pressure to their advantage.
