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Before Thursday's UEFA Europa League knockout stage match between "Ekranas" and FC "Hapoel", a press conference was held today with the participation of the head coach of the Panevėžys team, Valdas Urbonas.
"Every participation in European tournaments, every match is an event for the club, the whole city. Such games are memorable for a long time. A capable opponent awaits us, and of course, there is no need to motivate the men additionally. Despite being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League tournament, we have opportunities, chances to fight in the Europa League, and we want to do it tomorrow," he said.
"Analyzing the opponents, what strengths would you highlight in the FC "Hapoel" team?"
"There are no weak opponents for Lithuanian club football, especially at this stage. I don't think the opponent is something outstanding, but it is clear that they are a capable, strong team. Good ball control, the team has their style of passing the ball, controlling it. In the attacking line, they have a Nigerian player who tries to finish attacks sharply. They play modern football and left a good impression."
"However, FC "Hapoel" lost the second leg match to the Liechtenstein team "Vaduz" 1:2. Perhaps this proves that the Israeli team is not unbeatable for "Ekranas"?"
"Perhaps in the background of the first leg match, which they won 4:0, that defeat can be somewhat justified. Moreover, they scored a goal in the second leg match in the first minute. That defeat should not be overemphasized. Maybe they are still in the preparation stage, the championship is not underway. This could have influenced their game fluctuation and the form of the players."
"Talking about draws, "Ekranas" could have faced significantly stronger opponents, or can we say that draws determined once again a weaker opponent?"
"As I mentioned, there are no weak opponents for Lithuanian club football. Every opponent is strong for us, and we need to fight with all our strength. Talking about the success or failure of draws is just empty talk. Clubs have their own different histories, you cannot rely just on names, especially in this day and age. The level of teams is similar, you need to focus, prepare, and fight against each opponent."
"Can we say that the new "Ekranas" player Adama Fofana has already settled into the team? Are you satisfied with his performance?"
"Well, so far, we have observed him little in the matches. He played quite well on Sunday, scored a goal, created opportunities. He still needs some time, but he leaves a good impression on me, and I am satisfied with his dedication, play, and thoughts on the field."
"Are all players healthy and able to play tomorrow?"
"Now, compared to the last matches, U.Umeh has recovered from a minor injury, D.Gleveckas has recovered from an injury. Perhaps the major absences are related to cards, disqualifications. M.Andelkovič cannot play the next match, and I.Dedura will miss the match due to cards. Those are the main absences, two important players for today will not be able to play tomorrow."
"Could you compare the previous opponent BATE with FC "Hapoel", what are the fundamental differences between the teams?"
"It is possible to compare FC "Hapoel" for now only based on the videos we have seen. We already know what kind of team BATE is. I think they should be teams of a similar category, similar level. I could not say that one team is stronger, stronger. Analyzing FC "Hapoel," it is clear that they are a capable team, I believe they are of the same level as BATE."
"What could be the result tomorrow that would satisfy you after the match?"
"First of all, in such matches, it is important to perform defensive work without mistakes. We will try to tactically prepare to be more aggressive in attacking. We will search for our chances on the opponent's side of the field and in the penalty area, not forgetting the safety of our goal."
