Olympiacos will face Barcelona on Tuesday (21/10, 19:45) away from home, for matchday 3 of the League Phase in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the game, Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar and midfielder Dani García spoke at the pre-match press conference.
Everything the experienced Olympiacos coach had to say in detail:
Everyone says you’ll play with the same style you use in the league.
Nothing will change for us – that’s the philosophy behind our game. If we take a step back, it would mean we’re abandoning that idea. We want to move forward with determination. Everyone knows how we play, and that won’t change.
You’ve faced great players like Messi in the past. Do you see any difference between those matches and this one against Barcelona?
The level of competition is always very high. Of course, players like that don’t come around often, but the key is to adapt to the match. Barcelona are always a tough opponent – they make life difficult for anyone. What matters is that we defend well. Barcelona have outstanding players like Yamal, but he’s not the only one. We have to get everything right and give our absolute best.
How important is it for you to be back in Spain, and what do you expect from your team in order to get a result?
It’s really nice to return to Spain and face a Spanish side. These matches are special, especially in such a great competition. I hope –and expect– as Dani García said, that we’ll show the best version of Olympiacos. Hopefully, Barcelona won’t be at their best, and we’ll have to do everything right, make no mistakes.
Barcelona have several absences. Does that make things any easier for you?
No, not at all. Barcelona won’t suddenly be a bad team because they’re missing players – they’re still a top side. What matters for them is that Yamal will play; he featured against Girona, so we’ll see him again. The teams we face are all strong – Arsenal were too. We always play to win, though we know it’s tough to do that at Camp Nou. Still, we have the will to compete. We often talk only about the players, but we should also talk about coaches – because when a team loses, the blame falls on them. Barcelona’s coach deserves credit; with the players he has, he can take the team very far.
What’s the key to dealing with Pedri?
If we let Pedri do whatever he wants, we’ll be in trouble. We’ve prepared several different scenarios for how to handle Barcelona – it’s not just about Pedri or Yamal. Pedri is a player with great passing ability and a lot of movement, and he needs to be watched very closely.
You’ve faced Barcelona many times before. Does that give you a different perspective, or is this a completely different kind of game because it’s in the Champions League?
It’s definitely a different match. Two or three seasons ago, when I was at Sevilla, we were bottom of the table and lost to Barcelona. Most of the times I faced them were during the Guardiola-Messi era, when they were incredible teams – our chances were slim. I think I only managed to beat them once. We know how hard it is to win against them, especially at their ground, but we have the will to try. What’s great about Olympiacos is that our supporters never give up and always push us to fight, no matter who we’re playing. Our fans will be there to support us, and we have to give them our best.
It’s the first time we’ve had so many journalists here – that shows how much they like you. Any surprises in store to upset them?
I’ll say something I probably shouldn’t: you journalists are exactly the same – in the good times and in the bad.
Barcelona’s coach mentioned his grandson worries about how he reacts during games, and that he’s already picked up one yellow and two red cards against them. Do you have anything to say about that?
I’ve been sent off plenty of times myself, but I’ve calmed down a bit – age does that to you. It depends on many factors, not just the referee. But I don’t think he’ll be sent off again – he’s a smart coach, and he knows how to handle it.
Barcelona have had a few losses this season, and didn’t look great against Girona. What kind of chances do they have against Olympiacos now?
As I said before, when we had two defeats ourselves, the other team was also thinking about our weaknesses. Barcelona’s style hasn’t really changed since the start of the season. They might have to rotate some players because of injuries; some of their usual patterns may not come off during the game and their defense will need to be well-organized. Either way, I’m sure they’ll have a good match – with a lot of possession, pressing high, and trying not to give us much space to play.
Many players and coaches have been part of both clubs –or at least have experience in Spain– like Karembeu and Kovačević. Have you drawn on any of their experience?
Honestly, I usually don’t do that. Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to study and understand how an opponent plays. Certainly, some people can give you inside details, but I don’t think that’s particularly useful. I talk with Ernesto Valverde, but I wouldn’t ask him about Barcelona after all this time – I’d much rather have a nice chat with him about Olympiacos and what we’ve achieved here.
Do you believe Barcelona are favorites to win the Champions League?
Yes, absolutely – but Bayern Munich and several English clubs are also strong contenders. There are always favorites, but it ultimately comes down to the quality of the players and the coaches. There are quite a few candidates.
Dani García: “We need to show our best version”
This is the kind of match that’s a challenge for any player, regardless of age. Do you see it that way too?
It’s true – you don’t have to be 20 years old to enjoy this kind of game. It’s a beautiful match, and no matter your age, it’s special to come here and play.
You’ve played against Barcelona before. What does Olympiacos need to do to compete in this one?
We need to be the best version of ourselves. Everyone knows how you need to play against teams like this. Against Arsenal, we showed that we can perform well and that we have the ability to compete. Hopefully, we’ll put in a similar performance now – but this time with a different result.
You’ve faced Barcelona 23 times in your career. Do you still look forward to this game?
Yes, absolutely. I’ve played them many times with different teams, and there have been great moments. Out of those 23 games, I’ve lost about 19 or 20 and won three or four – I don’t remember exactly. But I do remember that they were great games and the wins were unforgettable.
You mentioned the Arsenal match. What are the main differences between that game and this one?
The common factor is that both are huge clubs and favorites in the competition. But they have very different playing styles. Olympiacos need to be focused and give everything against them. They’re different matches, but both are high-level challenges, and we need to play really well to face to them.
