DistantNews
Support us
Neestrup's plan for the 'battle' in Sofia
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

Neestrup's plan for the 'battle' in Sofia

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Panathinaikos is preparing for their Europa League qualifier against CSKA 1948 in Sofia, with coach Jacob Neestrup having more attacking options.
  • Forward Andreas Tetey, recovering from mononucleosis, returned to training and may be included in the squad, though his participation will be carefully managed.
  • Neestrup is considering a tactical shift to a 4-4-2 formation with two strikers, and has also focused on set-piece training.

Panathinaikos is in the final stages of preparation for their Europa League qualifier against CSKA 1948 in Sofia. Coach Jacob Neestrup has more attacking options available, particularly in the forward line.

The team departs for the Bulgarian capital on Monday. Supporters are expected to arrive in Sofia to back the team in this significant European match. One piece of positive news is the return of Andreas Tetey to training. The Greek international forward has recovered from infectious mononucleosis that had sidelined him for days. He underwent necessary medical examinations before resuming training with an individual program.

Tetey's chances of being included in the squad for Sofia are increased, though a final decision is pending. Neestrup and his staff will reassess his condition, and Tetey will undergo a fitness test before his potential inclusion is finalized. He posted on social media, "I'M DOING WHAT I LOVE AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT LAST WEEK."

Even if he travels to Bulgaria, his management will be cautious due to his recent illness and lack of regular training. However, Neestrup is pleased to have more attacking solutions compared to the first leg. Rastoder is fit, new signing Lief Garcia is available, and there's a higher probability that Dersers could be in the squad and potentially play his first minutes since his injury.

These changes have led Neestrup to consider a tactical shift. He is seriously contemplating fielding Panathinaikos with two strikers in Sofia, making the 4-4-2 formation one of his options. Significant emphasis has also been placed on set pieces, as Neestrup understands that a European second leg can be decided by fine margins. The team continued working on set pieces in their last training session.

Another concern for Neestrup is the right-back position. Giorgos Katris currently leads the race to fill the gap. The young player featured there at the end of the first match against CSKA 1948 and was tested again in that role during recent training sessions. However, he is not the only option. Neestrup could opt for a more attacking approach by placing a player on the right side.

I'M DOING WHAT I LOVE AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT LAST WEEK.

— Andreas TeteyThe Greek forward shared a message on social media after returning to training following an illness.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog