The result was not good for Olympiacos. Does it make even bitter to think of the second goal you conceded, the one with Llorente, the post and Roberto involved?
“Defeat is always bitter, no matter how you see it. We have 2 defeats and we are able to face any top team. We say so because Juventus is not just any club, it is a top club. I also say so because, in some parts of the game, we played smartly, courageously and this is very positive for our side”.
The fans look satisfied with your performance. All 2,300 supporters who came here, said so loudly and this is also the feeling back in Athens. What do you have to say about that?
“I said I am very satisfied by my players and the way we played. Olympiacos may be a medium-level side in Europe, but we nearly surprised everyone. We were really close in getting the result we wanted. Juventus fans were restless until the very last whistle blow. This says a lot…”
Olympiacos was defeated both in Malmo and Turin. Is it part of your script to get your great away win in Madrid, your hometown?
“What we have to do is to play the way we did tonight everywhere. This will bring us closer to a god result. We know that getting something surprisingly good for us in Vicente Calderón Stadium is equally difficult as it was here. And tonight, it looked the other way in the 60th minute…”
Does the fact that many Italian journalists and past football stars speak highly of Olympiacos
and that Juventus was lucky tonight, make you feel better?
“You are about to make me feel bad. It was a beautiful match. We scored 2 exquisite goals. There were 2 fine sides on the pitch, and a delivering referee, what else can one ask for?”
Will you tell us why Kasami did not start the match and if you felt as if you had a different style of play compared to the previous match?
“Given that some our players suffered from fatigue, we had to change both the players and our style of play. In the beginning, it seemed to be a problem since we couldn’t strike in counter-attack. But then we adapted ourselves and gave Juventus some hard times. Definitely, there is something I am aware of that explains why Kasami did not start the match and someone else did. Definitely, the player himself knows that as well. We are not a team that relies on specific players. We play as a team. Sometimes we may really on one of our lads, and next on someone else. We must always play as a team. Not always do star players make it in the line-up. No-one has secured his place, not even the coach”.
As regards the peantly saved by Roberto, hom much crucial do you think it is for the future?
“It may turn to be decisive; it definitely may be. Roberto displayed once again the kind of top goalkeeper he is”.
To see videos of the statements of Mr. Michel click ΗERE
