Donis to meet with Alafouzos before the Playoffs

A pivotal meeting between Giorgos Donis and Giannis Alafouzos looms before the playoffs begin, amid talks over the former’s position for next season.

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Following last week’s bombshell that the Panathinaikos hierarchy will reportedly strip Giorgos Donis of any control over next summer’s transfer window and preseason preparations (which was later denied by the club), news has emerged that Donis will meet with Giannis Alafouzos after this weekend’s match with Volos (before the playoffs begin) to clear the air.

A key figure to this meeting between the popular Donis and the unpopular Alafouzos will be Xavi Roca. The Spaniard did a tremendous job in the January transfer window, operating on a shoestring budget and only arrived at the club weeks before. Now that the technical director has had more time to settle in, he has seen how vital Donis is to Panathinaikos. He has told Donis that “this is your home, and this is where you will stay.”

Roca appreciates the project kick-started by Donis prior to the 2018-19 season when he arrived at the club. With Panathinaikos facing the most challenging chapter in its illustrious history, Donis turned to the club’s Academy and focused on developing youth. In turn, he has discovered several quality players, and this is what has significantly assisted with reducing the debt.

Also, Donis arrived at a time when the club had just been imposed a restriction in the transfer market, and the team started that season on -6 points for failing to obtain a licence to participate in the Championship. The team, filled with Academy prospects, was widely tipped for relegation, but Donis steadied the ship and eased any fears. After a slow start to this season, the team significantly improved and locked up a top-six spot with a few weeks to spare.

This meeting before the playoffs will hope to ease any concerns the playing squad has leading into a run of big matches; that way, they will not be distracted by off-field matters. It is also tipped that this meeting will go a long way in determining whether or not Donis stays on as coach for next season.

It is unknown what the future holds, as the relationship between Alafouzos and Donis appears to be strained, but the mood of this meeting will be vital in deciding whether or not Donis stays on as coach for the 2020-21 season.

In other news, Dimitris Kolovos has been ruled out for the next month due to an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. The midfielder has failed to impress at Panathinaikos and has missed most of the season due to injury. He has also been dropped from the matchday squad on many occasions since the turn of the year.

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