Leonardo Jardim
How much different are things now compared to the opening match?
Olympiacos has evolved quite a lot since that day. Today, we are stronger and better prepared. That’s our difference. Schalke has the same potential as in the opening match.
What do you think is the key for this encounter? Against Montpellier in France, your side had to perform a comeback. What’s your plan of the match against Schalke?
We came here to win in order to automatically enter the next stage of UEFA Europa League and leave the last match in order to claim our future in the UEFA Champions League. Of course, we are not seeking a 0-0 score, since this is a certain path to lose the match. We want a balanced match. We want to be good in defense, to block Schalke attacks and to fully use our scoring potential. That’s what we want to do, as we did in previous encounters.
Have made up your mind about who will play at the centre of the side’s defense?
We have 3 options for these positions; we do have alternatives. However, I want reveal the starting eleven to you. The players will be the first to know and this will happen tomorrow.
Apparently, there’s much more in every match of a Greek side against a German one. A lot of people will attend the game. Do you have anything to promise to the Greeks who will watch it?
Certainly. One of our objectives for which we play football, is to make Greece proud and make a good display in Europe. We will try to obtain a positive result, so that, in our last match at home, we strive to qualify to the next stage. We know that we will have many Greeks in our side and, for that, we will try to fill them with joy.
After the tournament begun, we see Olympiacos improving. How much better do you expect your side to be? What is the “ceiling” in Olympiacos performance?
Our aim is clear. We have stated at the beginning the reason we came here. We want to perform well, to keep on improving and certainly to register a good result, so we fight for qualification in the last match against Arsenal.
You’ve been in Greece since last summer. Can you say that the financial crisis generated problems in football, that there are less money for transfers or that less people attend the matches?
Financial crisis in Greece, as it is the case also in Portugal, has affected football. However, football goes beyond economics, because if we were to play a match in financial terms tomorrow, then Schalke would win. We will display our own “weapons”. The players want to show their value, to move on in the tournament and display Greek football in Europe. It goes without saying that we have been affected by the Greek crisis; we couldn’t just stay clear of that. Still, this does not prohibit us from going after our goal which is nothing else but qualifying to the next stage.
Schalke, as also Olympiacos, is quite good in set pieces. How do you intend to deal with Schalke particular strengths?
We have to be particularly cautious. We are aware of Schalke’s skills in set pieces. In these cases, we will have to be very effective when in attack.
Kostas Mitroglou
How much different are things now compared to the opening match?
Many things have changed. We have played more matches and so we are better prepared. We have learnt from our mistakes and I believe that tomorrow’s encounter will be adifficult one. We came here to win.
You have scored in all last 3 UEFA Champions League matches. Do you think this is enough to scare Schalke?
I do not know. The important thing is that I try to play for the team, the goals I score matter for the team; so, I am ready to play and give the best of me.
You are a German-born. How do you feel for playing against Germans and Kyriakos Papadopoulos?
This will be a stronger incentive, but the truth is that, for me, every match is like all others. But tomorrow’s match means something more for me, since my family and friends are here. So, tomorrow’s match is special to me.
Obviously, you have talked with Kyriakos Papadopoulos about tomorrow’s match. Have you put on any bet between you?
No, we haven’t. Not at all..
What are your memories of Germany?
It’s a nice country for vacations. I always have nice memories from Germany.
You have scored 3 goals in UEFA Champions League and you have always been a second choice.
The coach is the one who decides about the eleven to play. I always give the best of me and try to give everything for the team.
The fact that you have actually secured your place in UEFA Europa League, does it ease the stress in a way?
We want to make it to next stage and we don’t think about playing in UEFA Europa League.
