Olympiacos are in England for Wednesday’s (02/10, 22:00 GR time) match with Arsenal in the second round of the League Phase of the UEFA Champions League. At the pre-match press conference, head coach José Luis Mendilibar and midfielder Daniel Podence represented the “red-and-whites”.
Below, what the coach had to say in detail:
Are you concerned that Arsenal are a team that keeps fighting and pressing right until the final whistle?
That’s what good teams do – they push until the very last minute to win. Arsenal work hard right to the end, that’s part of what they do.
You’ve said before you don’t change your game plan. But Arsenal managed to break Liverpool’s build-up play – are you considering any adjustments?
It would be risky to change our style because we wouldn’t know how to do it properly. So, we’ll stick to what we know best.
Arsenal can defend both deep and high up the pitch. What’s your approach to facing them?
We can’t lose our heads. We need to stay calm. If all we do is focus on how good the opponent is, then we might as well have stayed in Piraeus.
Is it a priority for you that Olympiacos play without fear?
Yes, mentality is very important. We must be courageous against such a strong opponent. Certainly, even when you’re well prepared, sometimes the pressure makes it difficult to respond. But there’s a difference between Arsenal pushing us back and us not even trying to play our game. I hope it won’t be the latter – we need to play with bravery and keep doing what Olympiacos have done since I’ve been here.
Arteta was asked which player he’d take from Olympiacos and he said, “José Luis Mendilibar.”
I’m very grateful. He knows I love him because I was his coach when he was just a kid. So, thank you very much.
From what we’ve seen, Olympiacos often look well-suited to English football. What must the team do to succeed here?
There’s a first time for everything, and we hope tomorrow won’t be that first time. The key is to play without fear, but with courage. We know there will be tough spells in the game when we’ll have to suffer and the opponent with push hard, but we must deal with those moments calmly and with patience.
With six midfielders available now, including Scipioni’s return, is that something that worries you?
That’s easy – it’s good to have options. It’s worse when you don’t have enough. My job is simply to choose who’s best for this match, and during the game I’ll still have alternatives to change things up if needed.
How important is it for Olympiacos to adapt to the atmosphere created by Arsenal’s fans?
It will certainly be a great atmosphere, and the fans will push their team, just like ours always do for us. But in the end, the pressure comes from what happens on the pitch. The opponent will press us hard, and we’ll have to fight for the result.
What’s your view on Arsenal’s supporters, who are said to create one of the best atmospheres in England?
Players always enjoy playing in that kind of setting – it motivates them. The worst thing is playing in an empty stadium. Playing in a packed ground is what football is about, and we have to enjoy it.
Podence: It’s a fast-paced and competitive game
You know English football well. What kind of game do you expect, and what must Olympiacos do to get a result?
I expect a tough match, with a lot of pressure, competitive, and difficult moments for us, especially at set-pieces. It’ll be a hard game for both sides, but I believe we’re well prepared to perform here.
In recent years Olympiacos have had three wins in England under Portuguese coaches, Marco Silva and Pedro Martins. Could it be a Portuguese player’s turn to be the hero this time?
We’ve always had a strong Portuguese presence in the squad. As you said, we’ve achieved good results here before. We’ve already played twice at this level in this competition in England, and maybe this is another chance to do something special.
When players face star opponents, does it give them extra motivation to prove themselves?
Of course – It’s always special to play against the best teams and players. Facing a huge club like Arsenal is important to us. But our goal doesn’t change – whether it’s Arsenal or Levadiakos, our aim is to win each game.
In the most competitive game of the season so far, what must Olympiacos show to come away with something positive?
That’s really a question for the coach. From my point of view, Arsenal play fast, with intensity, and they’re strong. I’ve played here before and it’s always tough. We’ll need to be smart and take advantage of the good moments we create.
What differences do you see between the Premier League and the Greek league?
The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world, mainly because of the pace; there aren’t many other competitions played at that speed. That’s the big difference. Playing for Olympiacos now is different from when I was at Wolves, because the goal for Olympiacos is to win every single game – that’s why I’m happy to be back here, because I always push for victory. At Wolves, every match was tough and fast, but at Olympiacos we always play with the objective of winning.
