Krauss warns Mallorca before Greek trip

Reial Mallorca coach Bernd Krauss yesterday told his players they must change their mentality before facing the Athenians Panathinaikos in the Champions League tomorrow. Mallorca stumbled to a 0-0 draw at home to UEFA Cup runners-up Alaves on Saturday despite the visitors being down to ten men for most of the second half and Krauss will not have been impressed by the lack of concentration at times in the match. “The match against Panathinaikos is extremely important,” he said. “We're both on the same number of points and the Greeks were good enough to beat a very strong Schalke in Germany last week which shows what we're up against in Athens. “But to win over there the players will have to change their frame of mind and focus on the job in hand.” Krauss also warned his team to be prepared for a volatile and vociferous crowd. “It's always very difficult to play in Greece and against Panathinaikos especially where they have extremely passionate fans.” Mallorca and Panathinaikos are joint leaders of Group C after both teams won their opening matches last week. Mallorca defeated Arsenal 1-0, while the Greeks beat Schalke 04 2-0.