Qualification Not a Carpet to Hide the Dust

Panathinaikos secured their passage through the Europa League qualifiers, achieving the essential objective of advancing. However, the manner of their progression against CSKA 1948 has sparked debate, with the team's performance described as precarious and lacking the expected dominance over an opponent of lesser quality and financial standing.

The "Greens" advanced after a grueling match that went into extra time. They faced a CSKA 1948 side that, despite a significant gap in resources, managed to equalize late in the game, pushing Panathinaikos to the brink. This result has led to scrutiny of coach Jesper Jensen's tactical decisions and the team's overall play.

While acknowledging defensive absences on the flanks, the article suggests these do not fully excuse the team's problematic game management. The midfield, bolstered by Kamara and Tsirivakis, provided security but lacked creativity. CSKA 1948 exploited this by dictating a slow, closed-off game with minimal pressure.

The arrival of Levi Garcia, making his debut, injected personality and provided the crucial goal that seemed poised to change the game's trajectory. However, instead of building on this momentum, Panathinaikos appeared to adopt a more conservative approach, attempting to protect the lead. This defensive shift invited CSKA 1948 back into the match, leading to the late equalizer.

Coach Jensen commented post-match that in qualifiers, "substance" is key, and less "sexy" performances often lead to progression. He believes the qualification provides time to address the team's shortcomings. The late winner in extra time came from Dessers, marking a significant return. Despite the win, the performance has underscored underlying issues that the team must now confront.

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Yes, I can compare (laughing). Dinamo Zagreb could never have transferred a player like Leandro Trossard from Arsenal. I think that says it all.