Olympiacos will face Ajax on Wednesday (28/01, 22:00 Greek time) in Amsterdam, at the Johan Cruijff Arena, for Matchday 8 of the UEFA Champions League Group Phase. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with the Dutch side were Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar, while the players were represented by Francisco Ortega.
In detail, the press conference of Olympiacos’ experienced coach:
A qualification for the next phase of the competition – do you consider it an overachievement for the team, based on the wins and points collected so far?
I think it would be a huge achievement if that happens, because we have played against major teams from top leagues, with enormous budgets and great history. So, if we finish among the top 24 and find ourselves alongside all these big clubs in the next phase, it would be an honour for Olympiacos. But first we have to play Ajax, who are a massive club and also have chances of qualifying, so it’s an important match for both teams.
Thousands of Olympiacos fans have travelled to the Netherlands. Is there anything you would like to promise them?
We promise to work hard, to fight, to give everything on the pitch and to try to achieve what everyone dreams of. Of course, our opponent will do the same. What we can promise is that we will give everything to play a good match.
A draw also keeps Olympiacos’ qualification hopes alive. Is that result in your mind? And during the match, will you be paying attention to other results?
Of course, our sole objective is victory. That is our goal: to take the points that will almost certainly secure qualification. If, towards the end of the match, we are forced to look at other results, then yes, we will see what path leads to qualification. But what we want is not to have to rely on other results.
After the match against Real Madrid, qualification seemed unlikely. Now, after two positive results, the chances have increased. Does that create extra pressure?
I don’t think it’s pressure at this stage. What we feel is joy, because as you said, we are close to achieving a big objective, which not long ago seemed very difficult. Right now, we are satisfied, motivated and eager to reach that goal, knowing, however, that the final step has not yet been taken, because the opponent will do everything possible to stop us from winning. We are happy to be close to our goal compared to how things were not long ago, and fully focused on seeing it through.
When you heard about the tragic accident involving PAOK fans, what was your first thought?
My thoughts immediately went to the thousands of supporters of all teams who constantly travel to support the club they love, hoping to enjoy themselves and be close to their team. Sadly, these people will never make it to their destination or return home, having lost their lives on the road. Our thoughts are with the PAOK family –with the club and the people affected– because it is incredibly sad, and we are deeply sorry that they will never return.
Have you studied Ajax? What are the team’s strengths and qualities?
They are a team that, in recent years, has relied heavily on individual quality and the personal performances of their players. They are full of young footballers who have the freedom to take on opponents, are strong in one-on-one situations, and generally feel free to express themselves on the pitch without anxiety or pressure. That is Ajax’s greatest strength at the moment.
Ortega: “We will play as if it were a final”
You are facing a team that has not won or scored at home. Is that something you have discussed, and does it play a role in this match?
A team can lose or win without that necessarily reflecting their performance. The results you mentioned are not a criterion for judging whether Ajax are a good team, so no, we don’t focus on that.
Do you approach this match differently, considering it a final?
We are playing a match that everyone knows is extremely important, and we approach everything with the same objective: to win. But yes, we will play this game as if it were a final, because we want to –and we must– win.
