Pedro Martins:
On the elements that Olympiacos must have to achieve a good result that will open the road for the qualification: “The first thing we need is for the team to appear strong psychologically and you can rest assured that we’ll be ready. We know that we’ll face a strong opponent, that has a good career in recent years in the Swiss League and this is why they’re playing for the qualification to the group stage in a European competition. Then again, on our side, even though we are a new team that has some changes, we must be prepared and strong to face an opponent that surely will create us some problems. However, we prepared the match adequately.”
If the fact that, unlike Olympiacos, Luzern has played official matches constitutes a problem: “For sure the fact that our opponent has played official matches is an advantage for him. However, we also have advantages: we’ll play in front of our fans and the players are very motivated to show what they developed during the pre-season. We want to show our supporters everything we’ve been training until now. Luzern will create difficulties for us in the match, but we’re ready and we want the stadium to be full and to give us a push. The players have the motivation and the will to show to the supporters everything we’ve been working during the pre-season”.
If he’s considering making some changes in the starting squad regarding the one that started in the last friendly against Leganes: “The match against Leganes happened recently and there will be similarities. However, a week has passed and there will also be some differences. The team is stronger and more prepared. The players have worked hard and they’re full of willpower. They’re really looking forward for this match. You’ll see some similarities but also some differences from the match with Leganes. The same is true about the starting line-up, because that will also show my belief on my players and on the work they can do”.
On the willpower and the motivation of his players: “I’ve stressed to the players that the match lasts for 90 minutes and we’ll have to be patient and cautious during the whole match. The most important is not to concede goals because it’s a home match and we have the advantage to have seen the opponent in official matches. Thus, we know them better than they know us. Our objective is not to concede goals and to make the match we want”.
On the fact he has not asked for time as do all coaches when they take on a new team: “Because in Olympiacos it’s never allowed to ask for time, there is no time to spare. Olympiacos is a huge club and he must return to his rightful place, on the top. We know the importance of the matches and we can’t ask for time. We must play with intensity and belief in order to achieve the club’s goals. We must always give 100%”.
On when will Natcho be ready to play: “He’s a player that will offer quality, but he arrived in the last moment. Regarding the physical condition, not only Natcho’s but also others are not at the same level as the team. Some players arrived in the last stages of the pre-season like Torosidis, Karim, who was missing, Natcho. They’re here to contribute to the team, but we can’t say they’re ready on their physical condition and that they are integrated in the plan we want to apply. On the other hand, they’re ready to help and to contribute, but it’s still early to say he can perform 100%”.
Kostas Fortounis:
On how much it helps him and also the team that the roster this season has many more Greek players: “We’re a new team and some players have arrived who didn’t play in friendly matches. We’re preparing for that. We want the fans on our side. As for the Greek players, we’ve seen that many young Greek players have arrived and I believe this is good for the locker room but also inside the pitch, in order to have better communication and to make a good start for the future”.
If he personally and his team mates feel ready for tomorrow’s match: “We’ve worked well during the pre-season and I believe we’re ready to play in our stadium. I won’t hide that we’re the favourites, but our opponent has played official matches and we must be careful. All these days our coach has prepared us for the match and we’ll try not to concede any goals”.
On how they face the UEFA Europa League competition comparing with the UEFA Champions League, in which Olympiacos usually participated in the last years: “A European competition is always a European competition. Olympiacos, no matter if he’s competing in the UEFA Champions League or in the UEFA Europa League, must play in Europe. This competition is an opportunity to reach higher as a club. The approach is the same as last year’s. We’ll play the same again this year”.
