In detail:
Michel
“We are very happy to be here in the eve of the fixture against Manchester United. We look forward to tomorrow’s match. We see this match as a major prize for us with lots of expectations. Yet, we are going to give away nothing. We will fight until the last moment, because were glad to have made it to this point and we want to continue”.
On half of Olympiacos players play in the Champions League for the first time and the other half has no experience of the round of 16. Will that be a disadvantage for your side?
I see that more as an advantage rather than a disadvantage. It is this soul, this itch displayed by my players until today that have brought us here; this same zest is what we will use, despite our inexperience, in order to create problems to Manchester United. It will be demanding; nobody says that we cannot overcome such a huge obstacle like Manchester United. With all due respect and admiration for our opponent, tomorrow we will try everything not forbidden.
Compared to two months ago, is Olympiacos at a better state or the same like when the group stage was over? And for Manchester, do you believe that they are now better or worse?
I believe we are in a better state than 2 months ago. We are more experienced and have worked hard/ commenting on Manchester would be too bold. I am not going to do that. Manchester is a top-class team and there is no need to make comments.
As a former player who has performed with Real and won titles, what would you say to your players?
I would love to talk with them about my experiences, yet this is quite a long time ago, I am old and I cannot recall them anymore (laughter). However, the most important thing is that our players are self-confident, full of zest and we have the support of our fans in a hot atmosphere like the one we will witness tomorrow; that’s the most important thing.
What Olympiacos are we to expect tomorrow? The one in the first half against PSG in G. Karaiskakis Stadium, the one in Lisbon or that against Anderlecht in the last match day? Unless Olympiacos has not yet reached the peak of its European performance.
What is certain is that we will see the best possible Olympiacos that may be. Our players are prepared and ready to deliver their best possible performance. Our opponent is so big that we cannot afford not to give our 100% and not remain concentrated. But we also have to take into account that we are facing a top club. What we believe is that tomorrow, this good display of ours will be enough as it was in the first half against PSG or in Lisbon or in the last match against Anderlecht. We hope it will be enough for us. During the last year, we have been discussing with our players and we know what they capable of. So, even if something changes now, the players wouldn’t believe so.
Wayne Rooney just renewed his contract. Would you like to make a comparison with Ronaldo and Messi?
Firstly, congratulations to Rooney on his new big contract (laughter). I would like to congratulate him. No matter how high his level or his contract is, this proves what a great figure he is for Manchester United. All legendary teams have such figures who stay with the side even after retirement. It is reasonable that Rooney will spend his entire life with Manchester United. A lot of people will comment on how big his contract is, but the most important thing is what this man represents for Manchester United. Rooney has nothing to do Ronaldo and Messi whatsoever. We cannot compare them. Only maybe in terms of paychecks? (Laughter) As I said before, I believe that the only comparison that may be is the one showing that all three of them are important for their respective clubs.
Manchester has to win the Champions League in order to secure its place in next year’s Champions League. Is that an additional incentive for its players to give 100% tomorrow?
We are very well aware of the state of Manchester United and the kind of side they are. However, this may always be interpreted in two ways. It is a side that has put in many things in this fixture. There is no room for substantial mistakes tomorrow for them, because there’s a lot at stake for its future, given their position in the English championship table. The weight of the club’s name may add pressure on the players. Of course, tomorrow’s match is very important for its players, but we do not know whether this will be a facilitating incentive or and additional weight creating more problems for them.
When Olympiacos was drawn against Manchester, you have made a comment on both clubs supporting UNICEF. Today is the launch of the SMS-based campaign to raise money for children. We would like your comment on this effort to vaccinate 50,000 children.
“Football is not only about giving us joy, having a good time or getting our teeth into juicy topics just like players’ contracts. We play football for our fans, for the spectators, but we also have feelings and we love it when football becomes the vehicle to improve our fellow-people’s standard of living, either interested in football or not. So, thanks to football, we may send a text message (SMS) and save through UNICEF a child’s life.
Tomorrow, part of the stadium will be closed. To what extent is this going to affect you?
We said before something about rules that apply. When one breaks them, then one must pay the price. We hope that this will be a lesson not just for Olympiacos, but for everyone involved with this sports. We must not mingle football and non-athletic -or in particular non-football-related- stuff. We’d rather have all our fans tomorrow at the stands. This would mean two things: first, they wouldn’t have made that mistake and, second, we would have had some people more supporting us in the match. We do not want to make bigger mistakes and this shows maximum respect to rules.
Finally, what’s the favorite side for tomorrow’s fixture?
An easy answer: Manchester is the favorite. No matter how one sees it, when Manchester United plays a European match against any opponent, one may not claiming to be the favorite. There is a huge difference and we may not claim to be the favorite. We will try to close this gap and fight will all our strength. We cannot say that we are the favorite. This however does not mean that we will hand the match over and we stand no chance at all to get the win. That’s all statistics. But statistics is one thing and there is another thing what happens on the pitch, be it that of G. Karaiskakis Stadium, or Old Trafford’s.
Ioannis Maniatis
“The day has come. We have been looking forward to this match. I would consider it the match of the year, our first final. Tomorrow we will try to give our best on the pitch and get a positive result. We are focused and ready. We have worked hard, we really want to win this match and, with the help of our fans who will pack the stands, we will try to get the win and make them all happy.”
Tomorrow’s is a match of different speed. In Greece you fly from one 4-goal victory to another. Are you ready to handle this change of speed on the pitch?
We are ready. We have shown during the group stage that following domestic fixtures we were still at a good level for Champions League. Regardless of people saying that the Greek championship is not as fast and that it cannot be compared to any Champions League match. We work in training to cope with this great encounter. We are ready and we all look forward to this match, both us and the fans. We have to give our best and get our minds set for this match’s. I think we can make it.
Olympiacos has been playing against arsenal in the past years. Is there something different that you expect to see, in terms of their style of play, between Arsenal and Manchester?
Definitely, it is a good thing that we have played against English teams, so we know the speed of these matches. Having said that, it is our coach to tell us the differences or where to strike against Manchester. Certainly, these are two distinct sides we are talking about. Particularly this year with Arsenal making a great domestic campaign and Manchester which, as seen in the past months, not doing that well. Right after the draw, everybody started saying that Manchester is in no good shape; well, what I have to say is that Manchester is too big a name, too great a club and knows how to play these matches. What we can do is to shut our ears against all these talking and stay focused for 90 minutes. We can look them straight in the eyes; we did so against PSG, which is another major club. We respect them, but we must not be afraid of them.
