Over the course of its ten-year history, Panevėžys Football Club has collected four major trophies. The team has once lifted the Lithuanian A Lyga championship, celebrated two Supercup victories, and once claimed the FPRO LFF Cup. To add another Cup triumph to their cabinet, only one final step remains -winning the upcoming final.
For head coach Roland Vrabec, this will not be his first cup final. Back in 2017 and 2018, the German manager guided FC Vaduz to consecutive Liechtenstein Cup titles, securing qualification for international competitions. Since Vaduz competes in Switzerland’s second division, the domestic cup has traditionally served as their gateway to UEFA tournaments.
Looking ahead to the decisive match, Vrabec pointed out that opponents Hegelmann Kaunas District are still searching for their first-ever trophy and will be highly motivated to seize the opportunity on their third attempt. Nonetheless, Panevėžys are equally determined to rise to the challenge.
“I think this is the most important game of the season. A final is always a big achievement, you don’t reach it every year. We’re happy to have made it this far, and we want to have a good week of training to prepare in the best possible way. Our goal is to win the Cup because you never know when the club or the players will get this chance again.
The greater pressure lies with our opponents. Hegelmann are playing very well this season. They are back in the final after last year’s penalty shootout loss to Banga. Of course, they need this win, maybe even more than we do,” said the Panevėžys coach.
Reflecting on the journey, Vrabec emphasized the importance of resilience and responsibility:
“We want to step onto the pitch and enjoy the final, but at the same time feel the pressure and responsibility, giving one hundred percent as a club and as a team. Our semifinal against Sūduva was extremely tough, probably the hardest opponent in the league. But we managed to overcome them and earned the right to play in the final,” he noted.
Source: https://fk-panevezys.lt/r-vrabecas-svarbiausios-sezono-rungtynes/
