Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar highlighted the potential of Bodo/Glimt during the pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s (06/03) away first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Representing the players at the press conference was the team’s goalkeeper, Konstantinos Tzolakis.
See below details of Mendilibar’s key points:
Based on what we’ve seen from Olympiacos and what we’ve read about Bodo/Glimt, would you say this is a clash of two different football philosophies?
You could say that. I think we are two very different teams. They rely more on combination play and apply more intense defensive pressure. However, both teams like to challenge their opponents, and we’ll see who imposes themselves on the other. We’ll have to overcome their pressure, move the ball, and create threats, while they’ll try to break through our half. It will be an interesting match.
Olympiacos has proven to be quick to adapt to all conditions, but does the cold weather and artificial turf concern you?
The opponent will also face unique conditions in Greece, so these challenges exist for both sides.
Do these factors make you consider changing your game plan for the match?
What can I change? I can change nothing; the pitch is what it is, the weather is what it is. So far, we’ve been doing well, and I don’t want to change anything.
You’re coming off three derby matches, while Bodo/Glimt hasn’t played an official game in two weeks. Could this affect the match?
It depends on how you look at it. Not playing for that long is certainly not ideal, and I’m sure they would have preferred to have games between their European fixtures. On the other hand, playing three matches in a week isn’t easy either. But when you win those games, you gain confidence and go into the next match mentally stronger.
Since there’s a second leg at home and given the conditions, would you consider a draw a good result?
We are only thinking about tomorrow’s game, not next week. We’ll play this match, and once it’s over, we’ll assess the result. If things go well, of course, we want to win. If not, then a draw could still be a good outcome. We’ll evaluate it once the game is over.
What do you see as the key to the match, considering the weather and pitch conditions?
We haven’t talked about the opponent so far as if we’re playing against the weather or the artificial turf. We’re facing a strong team with quality players—those are the important factors. The rest is secondary.
Bodo/Glimt’s coach said that Olympiacos will be the best team they’ve faced this season. Do you feel the same about them?
Absolutely. If we’re here and others aren’t, it means we’ve been better. The same applies to Bodo/Glimt. As I’ve said, they’re a very strong team, and the real challenge isn’t the weather, the wind, or the artificial pitch—it’s their quality as a team.
Tzolakis: “Fatigue is not in our vocabulary”
A word on the U19 team’s qualification, given that you came through the Olympiacos academy yourself.
Congratulations to the youth team for reaching the top eight in Europe once again. It’s a great achievement. We were all watching their game at the hotel, and we hope to follow their path, just like last year when they won their matches, and we followed up with victories of our own.
Have you played on artificial turf before?
Yes, I have, but every artificial pitch is different. Snow and cold affect the surface, and I expect the ball to move faster. All players will need to be extra careful since this is not something we are used to.
Have these European wins and qualifications boosted your team’s confidence?
The team has been confident since the start of the season because we know our game plan and follow it faithfully. The results reinforce our determination, pushing us to show even greater character and stick to our plan until the final whistle.
What about fatigue? Is that a factor at this stage?
When it comes to European matches, fatigue is not something we think about. Something happens inside us—we all give our 100%, and our only focus is on winning. So, no, fatigue does not exist for us.
Olympiacos currently has the best defense in the tournament. How much safety does that give you as a goalkeeper?
Defending is a team effort. It’s not just me or the backline; it’s all eleven players on the field. Of course, it’s important because if we don’t concede, we only need to score once to win. Hopefully, we can stay solid in defense in both legs against Bodo/Glimt and advance to the next round.
