Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar and player Panagiotis Retsos spoke at the press conference ahead of the “Red-and-white'” match against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday (13/03, 19:45) at “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium, for the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Full Press Conference of the Olympiacos Coach:
What reaction do you expect from your team after the first result?
I try to think as little as possible about the previous match. My focus is on the one ahead, and we analyze it step by step. We take this game one step at a time.
Is the first step an early goal?
No, I don’t think that’s necessary. You never know when a goal will come, and we shouldn’t think that we have to score in the first 15-20 minutes or that we must score three goals. We need to be ourselves—more than we were in Bodo—and stay focused on our own game, just as we have done so far.
Last year, Olympiacos made a historic comeback. You have never lost in a knockout phase. Are these factors in your favor?
I don’t like statistics and numbers because they exist to be proven wrong. We don’t think that way—if we did, we would end up being eliminated.
Have you planned your strategy for the match?
Of course, I have everything in mind. The first thing I want to do differently is to not give the opponent the initiative, as we unfortunately did in the first match. Instead, we need to be ourselves, as we are used to being.
What is the readiness level of El Kaabi, Horta, and García?
They are all fine.
Retsos: “Everyone must give their best”
Last Thursday in Norway, everything was against Olympiacos—pitch conditions, circumstances. Now, things will be reversed. Does that play a role?
It’s different playing at home. That was a match we lost, but that doesn’t mean anything. Tomorrow’s game is very important for us, and together with our fans, we will give everything to secure the qualification that we deserve and want so much.
Last year, you overturned a similar situation. Can it happen again?
I said it after the Bodo/Glimt match—it’s something entirely different. Last year was last year, and this year is this year; they are two separate things. What we achieved last year certainly gives us motivation, but this is a different team. We have proven that we can do anything, and we haven’t lost our confidence despite the defeat in Norway. We will give our best effort.
Just a few days passed, and the match is already sold out despite the defeat. Does that mean something to you?
Our fans support us wherever they can. They even traveled to Norway, and we are very grateful for that. We try to bring them joy through our performance on the pitch. This is a different game, and having a full stadium is an extra boost for us.
Have you ever experienced such strong competition in the center of defense?
It’s great to have this level of competition. But for me, it’s not competition—it’s camaraderie, because these are teammates we share the locker room with every day, and some of us are not just teammates but also friends. Everyone gives their best, and that is reflected in our results both in Greece and in Europe. No matter who plays, we all have the same goal—to give our best.
What do you think the team needs to do to secure qualification?
We must stay focused and not think about the score. I believe the goals will come, but we need to remain concentrated because we are three goals behind. We can’t get carried away if we score; we have to take it step by step, minute by minute, and give everything on the field.
What does Olympiacos need to improve compared to the first match?
Obviously, we need to win and score. Beyond that, we must stay focused from the first minute to the last. In the first match, we conceded a goal just before halftime, which wasn’t good. Tomorrow, many factors will come into play, including how much we as a team want this victory and qualification. I believe we want it a lot.
What stands out to you about Bodo/Glimt?
They are a well-drilled team, but our focus is on ourselves and how we perform on the pitch. They are strong offensively, but if we play the way we are used to, the outcome will be completely different for us.
