Mr. Michel
Is our opponent tomorrow the strongest in the group?
For us, all fixtures in all match days will be difficult. We know very well the level of difficulty of this contest. Perhaps, the last MD’s result in Spain helps everyone understand the size of the side we are facing tomorrow. Personally, I could see the away win coming in Bernabeu, and this is helpful for the fans to understand the size of Atletico Madrid.
You are aware of the Spanish league and the past “Real vs Atletico” matches; what exactly does Simeone provide his team even when a bunch of his players are sidelined?
I think this is due to three simple things. He knows Atletico extremely well for many years. He has created a team, with everything this entails; it is a team that plays a single entity. And another important thing is that he is the boss in the club. technically speaking and in terms of any additions to the side, we can all see that he is the one calling the shots and, as third parties, we can see he is doing a fine job. His style is recognizable and that makes him top of his league.
In last year’s premiere, you had to face a tough side, PSG. If you were to compare both teams, what’s the easiest and toughest premiere of these two? This or last year’s?
I reckon that match and tomorrow’s have a point of resemblance: during the Press Conference, we had the exact same discussion. We were hosting a multi-million squad and we promised to give a hard fight and try to earn a good result. We didn’t grab the result we deserved, but we showed what were about to do later. The same principle applies in all matches in this tournament. Either one faces PSG or Atletico, unless one gives 100% -and in our case, something more than 100% will be required, then one will pay the price of one’s errors. This is how it goes in this tournament.
Atletico is a tough side, relies on tactics and even in a bad night it may take out a positive result. What are the elements that Olympiacos must showcase in order to have any luck in this fixture?
I know no side which wins even when playing poorly; and especially for Atletico, a squad that always performs well. I think they have more weapons than a simple water-pistol. For our part, we will identify our opponent’s weakness and try to hurt them. I don’t know what the outcome will be. What we got is that we are prepared to play in this competition, we have the experience and we have trust to ourselves. Something which is not good for anyone, when one knows the opponent too well, they suffer in the end. I only setup the side; the players are the ones who actually live the match. If, in our world, we fail to do this, then we don’t know how things may evolve and how we will go to bed. Only for their effort to fill the stands and for the support they give us for two hours before the match.
Has Atletico Madrid been improved or changed compared to last year given that three important players left the club?
They are not better, or worse. They are exactly the same, which means they are quite good. They have changed so many players, they still play well. They made it the UEFA Champions League final and lost it by a hair. And given they rely on their teamwork, that’s why one cannot tell the changes in individual players, because they are very good as a team. Even if they are not the same like last year, they are still really good.
Last year’s Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League was attack-minded and showed indifference to risk. Does this apply this year too, regardless of the result? Will Olympiacos be aggressive against Atletico or will you necessarily readjust your plans?
I believe yes, because I cannot think of myself telling the guys before the match something of the kind “lads, let’s go and lose the match, we are inferior to them”. If I were to do that, then they would say that I must have lost it completely.
Apparently, no coach tells his players “let’s go and lose the match”. We are talking about your tactical plans. Will they be the same or will you change something?
You don’t have to play in the same way to win. You don’t have to have 3 forwards, six midfielders and do the same things. Every side has its own style. We will play the way we know and we believe that we must in order to win, and I believe we will play well. One of the things we saw during pre-season was that we played various matches applying various tactics of gameplay but the main idea remained the same; and we were always satisfied with that. What we never do is to play with no goalkeeper.
There is…a trilemma for the attack. Mitroglou, Dimantakos or Benitez? Is the one who’s fittest to line-up?
I will tell you later in private. But don’t tell anyone. (laughter).
Last time Olympiacos played against a finalist, they defeated Leverkusen by 6-2. How feasible is that that to happen against Atletico as well? (laughter)
In tennis or in football? I think tomorrow’s match is going to be different. I wish that result could be repeated. If I were to say so, no one would believe me. Atletico’s current condition has nothing to do with Leverkusen’s back then, since they have changed completely after the final.
Compared to last year when Olympiacos had to throw out Benfica and Anderlecht in order to qualify to the next stage, is it going to be easier or not? Is Atletico the favorite to reach the final or even win the trophy?
We believe that this year looks like the last one a lot, since we know that sides coming from pot 1 and 2 outdo us. So, we have the same starting point. In this sense, both years look like a lot, and given the momentum of Atletico as we speak, they can reach everywhere.
Do you believe that Olympiacos is better prepared compared to the side’s last year European premiere?
Our condition looks like last year’s a lot, there are many similarities. Last year also we had to bring new guys in and teach them the main idea of our gameplay. We had many arrivals and departures in the last week. So it looks like that a lot
How difficult is it for a coach to play a match against OFI, in which no pressure has been felt, and then to step up for a higher caliber match in which his side will be the underdog.
We are very well aware of this situation and we utilized all our pre-season period to prepare for such matches. We will not draw up our strategy based on today’s training. We have spent all summertime to prepare for such matches. No drastic change on our gameplay will take place within an evening. We try having some common features, to keep possession of the ball, to put in place what we have learnt during training in a successful way against any opponent.
Is there a match against Atletico which you attended as a player of coach that has marked you? Was that positive feeling or not?
Yes, for me they have always been the eternal rival, more than Barcelona. I’ve always told them,, they never believed me.
ROBERTO:
What the qualities that Olympiacos must have in order to take a positive result against the tournament’s finalist?
We are a side that has to remain loyal to its style of play, so is our opponent. Each one must perform its best tomorrow and the one to go out the strongest will take the best out of this match.
You have been raised and grown up in Atletico, you know what the philosophy of this particular club is; is this going to be a sort of payback for you? Will a great performance be like knocking on the door of the Spanish national team?
I don’t see it as a payback. I see it as an Olympiacos player. I belong here, I will give my best to please the fans; I see it as a good opportunity to introduce myself to the Spanish National Team. This is how I see all matches. I see tomorrow’s match only as an Olympiacos’ goalkeeper.
Your performance in last year’s UEFA Champions League was admittedly splendid. How do you feel in your second year with Olympiacos and wearing the captain’s armband?
Indeed, last year was good for our side. What I want is for the team to have to have another great spell this year or even to outdo ourselves. The same applies to me. It is an honor to wear the captain’s armband. It is a title that weighs a lot and brings with it many things. From my side, I will try to return the club’s trust to me in the best possible way.
Have you transferred to your teammates the mentality of a side like Atletico and what is the main strength of your opponent tomorrow?
If a side has made it to the UEFA Champions League final, then this speaks for itself. It is a team of really great strength, both mental and physical. I am aware of the club’s mentality, I’ve lived it and felt it in my many years there. We will try to exploit all our knowledge for our opponent and take a positive result for us.
What should Olympiacos do in order to keep a clean sheet? Is it possible for that to happen?
Yes, it is something that may be done. What we must do is to put in place the things we know and do that well. If we make it, then we will be one step closer to our aim. Our first aim is to win and the second to win while conceding no goals.
Atletico comes from a great year for them and an away win in Bernabeu. Are you intimidated by Atletico’s condition? What is Olympiacos asset that will allow the side to leave the Karaiskakis pitch with a positive result?
We feel no fear. We all know what competition we are going to play in. We are absolutely ready and we know that any side drawn against us, it would be a national champion. We have had a very good year and we also performed really well in last Saturday’s match. We believe in ourselves and this is a competition in which we know very well that things will be difficult.
This year, there will be another set of defenders protecting you. Are you worried by the fact that you have new teammates lined-up before you, in the sense that they haven’t played many matcjes together? And furthermore, is it going to be helpful that many players from Primera have now joined your side?
All players who have had the opportunity to play against Atletico in the past, will be an asset for us. It is good that certain players know them very well. As per your question’s first part, we have had plenty of time during pre-season to get to know each other and deal with this challenge. No matter what happens tomorrow, it will not be the result of us not knowing each other, since this is not the case.
Click HERE to download the press kit for tomorrow’s fixture.
Click HERE to see Michel and Roberto’s statements during the Press Conference
