The New Saints’ Craig Harrison praised his team’s effort despite a 2-0 defeat to Panathinaikos, keeping hopes alive for the next round.
Oslo: So, the New Saints faced off against Panathinaikos, and even though they lost 2-0, Craig Harrison was pretty upbeat about how his team played. He told the players to hold their heads high because they really gave it their all.
It all kicked off when Filip Duricic scored for the Greek side in the 15th minute. Connor Roberts, the TNS goalkeeper, did his best but couldn’t keep it out on the second try. Then, Fotis Ioannidis sealed the deal with a penalty just after the hour mark.
Despite the loss, TNS showed they could hang with a team that has a lot of experience in European competitions. They’re not out of the running just yet, as they’ll head to Slovenia next week with a slim chance to advance.
Harrison was clear that while they wanted at least a point, he was proud of how the players performed. He mentioned that going up against a team like Panathinaikos, filled with international players, was a big deal.
He even had a laugh when a midfielder who was part of Morocco’s World Cup squad came on in the second half. It just showed the level of talent they were up against.
Harrison felt the players did a fantastic job, even if the result wasn’t what they wanted. He also had some words about the penalty call, saying it felt a bit soft and probably wouldn’t have been given in domestic matches.
Looking ahead, TNS has a Welsh Cup match against Colwyn Bay coming up. But after that, all eyes will be on the crucial game in Slovenia. They need a win and some luck to keep their European dreams alive, but Harrison isn’t throwing in the towel just yet.
He believes there’s still a chance, especially since they’ve kept a decent goal difference. It’s not over until it’s mathematically impossible, and he’s ready to fight for every point.