S. Vrevenas: opponents were better in every aspect of the game

2024-08-23 18:13 © fk-panevezys.lt

The football club "Panevėžys" played their worst match in the Conference League, losing 0:3 to the strongest Welsh team, Oswestry's "The New Saints," at Vilnius LFF Stadium. In the first half, the team from Panevėžys did not concede a goal, but after the break, they had to retrieve the ball from their net three times.

The Welsh champions were more effective with the ball, creating several dangerous opportunities through patient play. "Panevėžys" had two good chances to score with headers but failed to convert them and conceded a third goal during stoppage time.

After the painful defeat, coach Stijn Vreven summarized the match, pointing out the lack of character.

"I think the result is clear. 0:3 says everything about the match and what it meant for us. 'The New Saints' deserved 3:0; they were better in every aspect of the game - technically in football, in their desire, spirit, enthusiasm, and duels, which is why you can end up with such a result. Everything we said before the match about this being a great opportunity for us to progress to the next stage - the Conference League groups - would have been a significant achievement, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some players, since we also have other players. You can never play with that kind of spirit. As I said, we were lacking in every aspect, and that leads to a completely justified result for the opponents.

I always tell the players to look in the mirror, and I start there myself. Looking at the team, it wasn't a team performance; you can play poorly in some aspects and have a bad game, but you can never give up and let goals in. You must always play with passion and mentality. This says something about the season we are currently in, that since the first matches of the season, we've been in that position, and we are still there, struggling to get out.

It will be hard work to change that because if we continue like this, it will not happen. When there is no fighting spirit, you cannot play football, especially at this level. We need to understand and feel that if it doesn't hurt us as a team or club, then we are not in the right place," the Belgian specialist told fk-panevezys.lt.

The return match will take place on August 29, Thursday, in Oswestry, England. The kickoff is at 20:30.