In detail:
Congratulations for qualifying. Have you experienced a more intense match both as a player and a coach?
Tonight, we’ve seen them all. Happily, almost everything went fine for us. No doubt, we deserved to win and qualify. However, I believe that we did not deserve to suffer that much. Certainly, it was worth the pain and the fatigue was most welcome, since we made it to Europe’s top 16. If we have an overall view of what happened in all these fixtures, I believe that what happened was exactly what my players deserved: to qualify. If my players have decided to make older by 10 years overnight, they sure did it.
Is there a certain instruction on who’s to take the penalty shots in Olympiacos?
They knew that Saviola would take the first, since Chori wasn’t on the pitch to shoot it. As for the second, Weiss wanted to take it because he was confident enough, so the coach has no say in that. We know that Saviola is good at penalties, like Chori. Unfortunately, both last penalties taken by Saviola have been denied. A penalty shot depends on a momentary decision.
In the past, Fuster used to be the penalty shooter. Was it by decision that he doesn’t take them anymore?
Players shoot penalties on a daily basis and practice on that. If I was told that Weiss would take a penalty shot, I wouldn’t expect that. It is up to the commitment the players feel and the discussion they have at that very moment. Weiss was eager to take the shot.
You said before that you suffered. What was the reason of that?
I believe that there was large tension built about this fixture. Players knew that they would have a unique chance to qualify. They knew it long ago that they would have this chance. There have been many moments in which the players showed that they would rather avoid doing something wrong, rather than doing the right things. I believe we had control of the match, and everything negative that happened was the outcome of our poor playing; both good and bad things. Those are the moments that you can do nothing about, that players experience inside their souls and affect their playing. So, at this moment, I am lenient to their mistakes, because they made a huge effort to qualify. We have lots of time at our disposal to get down to work. We may have now forgiven their mistakes, but we will allow no more next time.
A comment on the most distinctive moments throughout this campaign, whether you feel proven right about your work and what side would you like to play against in the round of 16,
The moment that I most strongly remember and made me understand that this team has many chances to go through, was that after the end of the Lisbon leg. We have earned a draw, but we felt it like a victory given how the team had performed. I am happy with many things we have achieved here; and I am talking in general, since the day I came here. Many things have changed. However, our players are the star and they deserved to receive credit for vindicating this effort. When I came to Olympiacos, I have said that it is a great and acclaimed club, but we want to go the extra mile in Europe. I feel successful because of that. As for your third question, I will be happy to play against any team. If the side drawn was South Korea, then that would make feel great.
You achieved something Valverde had not.
I feel as if I will always be standing behind Valverde, because he has been a point of reference of Olympiacos. People in Olympiacos loved him. I will never outdo him and I will be always standing behind him. He is an extraordinary and great coach, with a magnificent personality. that’s why he earned people’s love.
History shows that you have outperformed him.
No, not in people’s hearts I haven’t; and I believe I will never do.
Why did you take Savioa out?
Are you judging me now? (Laughter)
He had scored twice.
Saviola was tired. Neither Machado played bad, but we needed something different. That was our interpretation from the bench. We had to take a decision on sending Chori in, and he did what we asked him to. Olaitan offered a lot to the team and he did what we asked him to, we reckoned that the side needed more to counter-attack, rather than to attack. What we were in need of was the drive of Olaitan and Chori, coupled with Weiss and Campbell at the wings. I didn’t replace him for missing the penalty.
When your side was heading the match by and had the qualification in its hands, why didn’t you calm the players down and still played so stressfully? Was the referee too strict on Anderlecht?
We were too nervous since the very first minute. Instructions from the bench were that we should launch long attacks and play calmly. Unfortunately, we failed to do so due to too much tension. I never comment on refereeing. In any case, all three penalties were rightly called for. Anderlecht may have finished the match with 8 players, but this does not belittle our qualification.
Following the match against Benfica, you have said that you would buy Roberto dinner. Now are you going to buy all players dinner?
Now, it is they who should buy me a Valium pill! They should pay ten euros each to buy me all the Valium pills I need. I won’t sleep for the next 3 days. I won’t be make good company for the one sleeping next to me, since I will be tossing and turning around a lot! I will buy them all dinner, because they did many things for me.
Will you be asking for a present during the January transfer window?
I don’t make a practice of asking things, because many things have been given to me. The President knows the squad he has and whether there is something he should improve. After the match, the President offered me Ronaldo and Messi, but that was because of the shock. Tomorrow morning, when we wakes up,. He will call me to say it was a joke; if he also managed to get some sleep, that is.
