Here is what Rafa Benítez said in detail at the press conference after Panathinaikos' 0-0 draw with AEK at Leoforos:
On whether Panathinaikos can win the title long-term with this strategy and what needs to change for the team to become competitive:
"There are two ways to improve. One has to do with the emotional aspect, being strong to win individual duels, and the second is to have a clear plan. When I came, I was told that the goal was for next year because it was difficult for Panathinaikos to win anything this year. Everyone who knows football understands that it was very difficult with the number of players in the squad (then 34, now 33), but also with the transfers we made of young players, it seems there is a plan. I will be very proud regardless of the formation if we win. Looking at our own results, I see that with a three-man attack, we score more goals and concede fewer goals compared to when we played with a four-man attack.
You see a project through improvement, and the team has improved. It has gained the most points from those available, and this shows progress. I don't consider it a failure. The team has achieved what it has in Greece (semi-finals in the Cup and top four) and Europe (a very good run). The top four in the Greek championship was the goal when we came. We are improved, I see that. I know all the players and the club well, and I am convinced that next year we will be competitive and fight for the title against these three teams. We must always think further ahead. What I'm thinking about is for the team to be competitive from next year and when it moves into the new stadium. That's what I'm trying to do, I'm thinking about this project in that logic, and I will continue this way."
On what Panathinaikos is lacking:
"We have analyzed and are trying to improve the team. You have to constantly improve if you want to win titles. With the tools we have, we are doing what we can. If you want a better result, you have to change some of the tools. We have had discussions about the profile of the players we want to add, we have a plan, and I believe we are taking steps in the right direction. We are not foolish; we know what we need.
And you want to know, but we are trying to work professionally. We cannot have leaks about the players we want because that will affect many things, e.g., financially. We keep it close and secret to have the right choices. We have had contacts and discussions, and knowing the profile we want, we will do our best to become competitive against the three teams. I hope we manage to change things. We played today against an opponent who is trying to win the title. They had different motivation, and yet the team, with ten players, looked the opponent in the eye. And we could have won. We can look at things from both angles. Right now, we did our best."
On whether he considers it unreasonable if he doesn't continue next year and if he reads what is written in the media:
"We don't read reports. Here in Greece, it's more difficult for us. But we receive information. From the first moment something like this was heard, it was in February. A journalist from England who was friendly towards Olympiacos in a medium hostile to Liverpool. In football, with the media and social networks, there is copy-paste; there is an intense pace in journalism, which I understand.
I am convinced that we will be competitive in the new stadium. When I came in October, they told me to do my best this year, and I think we have improved quite a lot. But I know we are not foolish. What you see that needs to change, we see too. We see the players, we analyze the situation, and we know the profile of the players we want to bring. We have had many discussions with the technical directors; that's how we work, and I believe we will do the best we can."
On the team being criticized for not playing good football, and whether it's true that he asked for ten to twelve transfers of key players, and also whether Panathinaikos faced hostile refereeing:
"The team was solid and well-organized. I avoid talking about refereeing; we know we are in Greece, and various things happen, but I am focused on my job. We need to improve the players we have and bring in those who will help with the progress we aim for. I see that the team has improved in all areas, both offensively and defensively, compared to our competitors. The team managed to have the best point tally in the second half of the championship, along with the rescheduled match against OFI. We know that we are still far from what we want. We have had various discussions with the technical directors about the profiles of the players and the number we want. You know that to organize a team and make it competitive, you need a sufficient number of players. But the 33 players we have now are too many.
I also know that it is very difficult to release players who have high contracts. If I ask you what the ideal number of transfers that should be made is, I think the number will be similar to what you said before. In January, we signed nine players. How many of those did the coach himself ask for? I work with the directors, and that's why I'm convinced that the choices will be made with a different approach due to the meetings we've already had, and some things that didn't go well previously, we will do better. Out of the 9 transfers in January, six were under 25 years old, which shows the future. I am satisfied with that. We need to support this group of players to win the matches they have ahead of them. We forget that today we drew against a team that is close to the title with ten players. They gave their all."
On whether what he says about the January transfers makes his future at Panathinaikos more difficult, and if what he said is a reproach to the technical directors:
"That's not how things are. I didn't choose those specific players, but I agreed with the players who came. That's what I said. We were saying there was a possibility of getting "this one," and I said yes. I was talking before (I came here) with Sissoko. I didn't bring him; he was proposed, and I knew him. He fit the profile we were looking for in that position. It's not that I said, "I want him." Nor did I bring Corona, if there's any doubt, and I have a very good relationship with both Corona and Kotsolis. We can't trust what the reports write; we have discussed with Mr. Kotsolis about next year for what we want, and we talk every day about the future."