Olympiacos will face OFI on Saturday (17/05, 20:00) at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, aiming to lift the Greek Cup and complete the domestic double, having already secured the Stoiximan Super League title.
At the pre-final press conference, Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar shared his thoughts, while captain Panagiotis Retsos represented the players.
Find below the detailed press conference:
You’ve won the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla, the UEFA Europa Conference League with Olympiacos, and just a few days ago the league title. Are you missing a cup trophy?
Firstly, I want to highlight the achievement and merit of the OFI coach, as it’s impressive for them to be here, in the final. At the beginning of the season, OFI wasn’t considered a favorite for the final, and that alone is a great accomplishment. So they’re a worthy opponent. I only started winning trophies in the last two years, even though I’ve been coaching for 30 years. You never know when your moment will come. That’s why I want to emphasize that we’re up against a great opponent.
Olympiacos has been the best team all season, especially during the Stoiximan Super League Playoffs. But a final is a one-off game. Are you concerned about possible complacency from your team or more about the opponent?
We may be the theoretical favorite, but that means nothing during the match. This is a final and another trophy is at stake. I don’t believe -and I don’t want to believe- that my players will be complacent. We didn’t stop pushing after the regular season, and we showed that in the Playoffs. We have no intention of stopping now. It’s my job to keep the players performing at 100% against a quality opponent who earned their place here and challenged us in our last meeting. We need focus, seriousness, and full concentration – with respect to our opponent.
If you could “lock out” one OFI player from the match, who would it be?
We hope that everything is going to go smoothly and that it will be a great final. We’re happy to be here, so we want all the best players on the pitch. May the best team win, and may nothing disrupt the harmony we aim to maintain on the field.
Do you feel Olympiacos is more prepared now than at the start of the season to face teams that sit deep and defend compactly?
It’s true we had trouble, especially early in the season, getting the results we wanted against teams that weren’t considered top-tier. However, during the game we don’t focus on the opponent’s style – we don’t change ours no matter who we face. So we need to bring out our best version to handle the best version of OFI. It’s our job to adapt to the opponent, and their job to challenge us – and for us to respond and be better than them.
Have you decided on your starting lineup? Will Horta and Kostoulas be included in the squad?
Kostoulas won’t be available. Horta trained with the team, so there’s a good chance he’ll be with us, but we still have one training session left. I’ve made my decisions regarding the starting lineup, but we’ll finalize everything after that last session.
This is your third consecutive final – two in Europe, now the Greek Cup. Have you prepared for the possibility of extra time?
We need to be ready for all scenarios. No one can guarantee you’ll win it in 90 minutes – and no one in the team should be thinking that way. So we are ready for all scenarios, even for penalties. We’ll try our best to win in regular time, but if not, we’ll push even harder in extra time.
What did you say to your players to keep them motivated after securing the league title? And a comment on the Olympiacos fans, who will once again be in the stands.
Motivating the team is simple – you want to stay competitive. And we had the Cup final ahead of us. You need to remain sharp, because if your level drops, it’s hard to raise it again for a final. For the fans, matchday is a celebration – for OFI, for us, for everyone. This game is for the people, for those who want to enjoy it and be at the stadium. You, us, the players, the organizers; we’re all responsible for delivering a final that everyone enjoys. A final that’s played with respect. It’s only natural that a final should be played in front of fans, not empty stands. That’s why we all need to work together and make this a great final for everyone.
Retsos: “If we do what’s required, we’ll be victorious”
How does it feel to finally play a cup final with fans from both teams in the stands? And what would it mean to win another title?
It’s great for both clubs that our fans will be there. It’s a final, and we need to stay focused for the entire 90 minutes. It’s a good feeling to have our supporters present – we’re ready and looking forward to the game.
Do you as players feel a responsibility to offer moments we rarely get to experience in Greek football?
Absolutely – football is a team sport, and for me, Fair Play is the most important value. That’s why the game exists – to offer those kinds of moments. We want to give fans a beautiful match without issues. As players, we should avoid being provocative, maintain a proper attitude, play our football, and let the best team win. That’s our approach as footballers and our motto.
Last year around this time, you won the UEFA Europa Conference League. A few days ago, the league title. What’s your motivation going into this final?
It’s important that we’re in the final. Last year’s title was something special, a huge success. This year, for Olympiacos’ 100th anniversary, we wanted to give our all for the league title – and now we want the double. Congratulations to OFI for reaching the final; they’re worthy opponents. We all hope to witness a great game.
In Greece, Olympiacos always enters the pitch as the favorite. How much does that expectation make your job harder?
It’s a final – obviously, everyone wants to win. The concept that we must win is relative. OFI made it to the final, which means they’re a good team. So I don’t use the word “must,” because that makes things harder. What we must do is stay focused and serious. If we do what we’re supposed to, I believe the match will go our way and we’ll show who we are – just like we’ve done all season.
