Olympiacos will host PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday (04/11, 22:00) at the “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium for Matchday 4 of the League Phase in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the encounter with the Dutch side, head coach José Luis Mendilibar and midfielder Chiquinho spoke at the pre-match press conference held at the “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium.
In detail, what the Olympiacos coach had to say:
What must Olympiacos do to claim the win, and how much does Hezze’s absence affect the team?
We played two days ago without Hezze and won. He’s an important player for us, no doubt, but we’re confident that whoever replaces him will perform just as well. Both teams play open, attacking football – it’s the kind of game we like. The side that executes that style better on the pitch will win the match.
Do you feel any added pressure compared to previous Champions League matches?
No, I don’t think about the previous games, nor do I compare them. I’m only focused on tomorrow’s match. What matters to us is how we’ll face PSV – not what’s ahead or what’s already happened. We don’t think too far ahead as it serves no purpose.
What can Olympiacos do to stop Saibari?
We’re more focused on what we can do to make sure the opponents don’t stop us.
Will the team that performs better defensively or offensively win tomorrow? And is Ortega available?
It’s funny to hear that question because you see us every week – our style doesn’t change, no matter who the opponent is. We won’t alter our mentality. Whether PSV play better or not is another matter. Ortega is available for the match.
Is this PSV similar to the one you faced when you were at Sevilla?
The way Sevilla played against PSV back then will be quite similar to how we’ll approach this match. It’s been almost two years since then – Sevilla were unlucky in that game because they conceded an equalizer at the very end. Hopefully, our luck will be better this time.
You won the UEFA Europa Conference League with Olympiacos in 2024. Do you think the team is ready to make its mark in the UEFA Champions League?
We’re here just like every other team in this competition. We’re ready to compete, but we can’t think too far ahead. This is a very demanding tournament – the best teams in the world are here, and some have won it many times. Our first objective is to finish among the top 24 teams.
You said you won’t change your style, but what must you be careful about against PSV?
I’m not sure I should reveal everything… but I can tell you this: PSV are an attacking team that play good football – you can see that from the number of goals they score. We’ll need to handle that well; if we do, things will go our way. But PSV will also have to reflect on our game – they’ll have plenty to worry about too.
Chiquinho: “We just need to do our job right”
Where do you think the game will be decided?
We expect a tough match – as every Champions League game is. We know what we need to do.
play well in front of our fans, do our job properly, and aim for a positive result. Can Olympiacos’ home ground be the key to qualification?
Definitely. Playing at home is always an advantage for us – the atmosphere our fans create is incredible. We’ll try to make the most of that energy and go for all three points.
You’ve scored most of your career goals under coach Mendilibar. Do you dream of scoring your first Champions League goal?
What matters most is the team. Of course, if I score or provide an assist, that would be great for me personally – but the important thing is for the team to play well and win. Whoever scores, it’s the same for me, as long as we take the victory.
Many call this a “final” for qualification. Do you see it that way too? And has what happened in Barcelona given you extra motivation?
Of course it’s a final – but so are all Champions League matches. We treat every one of them that way. We want to perform as best we can because it’s an important game for us. The red card to Hezze in Barcelona wasn’t fair, but we’re here to play football, not to judge refereeing decisions.
What do you know about PSV?
They’re a strong team – very attacking, and their number 10 is an excellent player. They press high and score a lot of goals, but we also have our own strengths and qualities, which we’ll look to show on the pitch.
We’re now halfway through the League Phase. Last year, qualification was decided around 11 points. Do you discuss how many points Olympiacos will need to advance?
No, we don’t talk about that. There’s no point doing calculations when not everything depends on us. We focus on what we can control. We want to stay focused on the match, where we’ll be facing a strong team. There’s no point in talking about things that are beyond our control.
A word about the fans who will once again fill the stadium.
It’s always a huge joy and an honour for us. The atmosphere they create is amazing – especially in Champions League nights, it’s just unbelievable. The least we can do is thank them for their support and give everything on the pitch to win.
PSV are a very attacking side. Have you faced a similar team in Greece?
No, I don’t think there’s a team in Greece quite like PSV. They’re quick, attacking, and press aggressively. We haven’t faced anyone with that style domestically. But that doesn’t change who we are – we know our identity and how we want to play. They’re strong, but so are we, and we have our own distinct qualities.
