Our club’s new head coach, Mr Vitor Pereira, was presented, today, in the Olympiacos FC’s HQs at Alexandra’s Square.
In the presence of our club’s President, Mr. Vaggelis Marinaklis, Strategic Advisor to the Administration, Mr. Christian Karembeu, members of the Administration as well as the Legend’s Veterans, our new Portuguese coach was officially presented to the Media.
Olympiacos FC’s Communication Director, Kostas Karapapas, moderated the presentations and gave initially the floor to Mr. Karembeu, who said: “Good afternoon. We are here to present to you our new coach, Mr. Vitor Pereira. He started from Porto’s Academies, and then was appointed assistant next to the club’s head coach, Andre Villas Boas; then, he assumed Porto’s head coaching. As a head coach, he is a very successful one. In his 8-year spell in Porto FC, the club won several trophies and played many patches in European competitions. As of today, he joins our family as head coach, bringing with him a team of assistants, while expressing his desire to keep Antonis Nikopolidis and Mr. Rantos as members of our coaching staff. So, we would like to welcomes Mr. Pereira in this great family of ours that amounts more than 5 mil. people, as one of its members, as one of our own”.
Then, the floor was given to our club’s President, Mr. Vaggelis Marinakis:
“For us, replacing our coach has been a sentient decision; it didn’t happen overnight. It was something we have considered a lot and decided that this was the proper time for such a change. What matters for us is Olympiacos to finish top of the table at the end of this season. Also, Olympiacos is a club with a very large budget compared to other clubs in the Greek championship; this means that, at least, we should not be so anxious to get the victory, both home or away, or strive that hard to get a positive result or even fail to get it at all. So, I think that a change is necessary because the second round will more difficult than the first, in terms of our match schedule, and the club must win the championship in any way.
Picking our new coach was based on the proper criteria for someone who is to head coach Olympiacos in a critical period. We were in need of a winner, someone experienced is such circumstances. Vitor, during his time as Porto’s manager, used to have no alternative but to win. He knows what it means to be under pressure and working in a club that winning is the only option. He has been there and quite successfully. Moreover, Porto used to have in its then roster some great players, and he handled them in the best possible way. This is also an aspect one should take into account when picking someone to head coach Olympiacos. Moreover, he is a coach who, even under pressure, takes the best decisions. So, I believe that Vitor Pereira meets all these demands which we should seriously consider. So, I hope that Olympiacos will be back on top very shortly and, in the end of the season, the club will be champions again”.
Last, the floor was given to the Legend’s new coach, Mr. Vitor Pereira:
“Good afternoon. Firstly, I would like to apologize for not being able to speak in your language. Unfortunately, I will speak in mine, the Portuguese. It is a great pleasure and honor to be here, joining Olympiacos and your family. I know the size of this club, I know what Olympiacos represents and stands for. I am very well aware of our fans’ drive, the boost that the Karaiskakis Stadium provides. I know what you are all expecting from me. What I want is to resume from where I left it, this means winning more championships, titles, cups and I know that I have joined a club that wants to do exactly this every year; and this is how I want to continue. I also know very well that there is only one result that, here, people await: to win only. Winning is the only thing good enough for Olympiacos. That’s why I came and in my previous club they have also been asking only for victories.
Of course, my personal concept is that I do not play football only to win, but I also want to put on a great display on the pitch, an attack-minded and dynamic style of play, be it in offense or in defense. As of this day, I want to have these ideas instilled here, because I know that every single day is another test for us. What I want to thank in my own way all those who entrusted me, the President, the team and the club as a whole. My way of saying thank-you will be by means of winning matches, titles and championships, because I know very well that the championship means a lot for Olympiacos. I want essentially to leave my mark; I want an aggressive squad, a dynamic outfit that will perform well and thus I will thank them. So, time to get down to work now. Thank you”.
After the panelists, journalists started addressing their questions to them.
Can you tell us what is your dream and the one you would like to live as Olympiacos coach?
Pereira: “In fact, as I said before, both I and the side lives on titles and championships. I want to keep on winning championships and, certainly, to have a good campaign in Europe, in the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League».
In your discussions with Mr. Pereira, what have been his qualities that convinced you he is the proper one to coach Olympiacos and do look forward to a long-standing collaboration; I am asking so given the rumors about your agreement on a 2,5-year contract;
Mr. Marinakis: “When one considers or proceeds with the appointment of a coach like Vitor Pereira, it is not for 6 months or one tear. So, we start with 2,5 years. Second, as I said in my introductory comment, what does Olympiacos represent? It is a proper Legend of a club, a team committed to win, a side we all want to see performing the best football possible. In order for this to happen, it takes a true football connoisseur, but this is not enough. It also takes someone who has experienced similar conditions and managed to pull it through. As I explained before, Vitor had lived all that in Portugal, in similar circumstances, under similar pressure, in an even harder and more competitive league, and he had been successful. So, I believe these elements are enough to start a collaboration, which we all hope to last for a long time. And I remind you that, two years ago, when we had decided to move on with a change, numerous journalists have been writing staff, for a period of at least 6 months, and when you suddenly realized that he was to leave, you had nothing but praises for him. You used to ask why to bring Michel, why to do this or that, and now that Michel leaves, you start whining again. I wish you whine again when Mr. Pereira will be also about to leave”.
What is your image of the side you are to take on? What do you want to change or add to this team in the coming period?
Pereira: “I have worked in top clubs and we used to play against strong opponents, important players who defended hard and were ready to strike back. What I always wanted and introduced all my clubs into, both in Porto and during my short-span in S. Arabia, was the concept of ball possession, defending aggressively and playing hard in attack. Actually, we would not let the opponent create many goal-scoring chances, whereas we would keep the ball and score many goals. If you check my previous clubs, this was exactly what I have achieved. This is what I want to turn Olympiacos into; a side that is aggressive in the attack, strong in defense, keeps the ball and thus scores many goals, both at home and away; this means giving this team a proper identity”.
We are in the transfer period. Can you state, following your consultation also with the new coach, any plans for this period.
Mr. Marinakis: “The new coach has not yet trained the squad once. Moreover, no manager may draw any conclusions from yesterday’s match against Fostiras. So, what we have already discussed and any reasonable person would say, is first to attend at least 3 training sessions and an official match, and then make up his mind on what he has to do. We are in no hurry. And another thing: Olympiacos needs no transfers in order to beat Platanias or Levadiakos or Panionios, sides that feature young players paid with 750 or 1.000 euro per month. Does it need any transfer to beat PAOK in its current shape, a side whose last 4 wins we all have seen and still holds this place in the table? Have you ever thought of that? When there is a club with a budget of 50.000.000, when all others combined have a budget of 2.000.000 or 1.500.000 euros, does this club need transfers? This is a question for all you. But, anyway, in order to give you the answer you want. What Mr. Pereira has told me is that we wants to attend at least 3 training sessions and an official match, and then make up his mind on what he needs. From our side, we will be there to support and deliver his plan and his actual requirements; we will see about that in the coming days”.
There was one very Saturday night, back in May 2013, when an exciting thriller unfolded. It was the Porto vs Benfica match and you actually won a championship in injury time. Has this been the most intense night of your coaching career and do you believe that you will be able to also live such moments with Olympiacos?
Mr. Pereira: “Firstly, let me tell you something about me. I am an individual who lives football. For me, it is like the air we need to breath. I cannot live without football. I live it passionately and what u actually want to do here is to leave my mark. I want, sometime in the future, people to say that Pereira was here and did an important job. This is what I want to accomplish here. And this is so because I am a man living a life of passion and when living like that, we want to achieve great things.
Now, as for the specific match you referred to: we scored in 92’ and won the championship, under a great deal of pressure, while this has been a campaign in which both teams have remained unbeaten. Benfica suffered its first defeat in 92’, just one match day before the end and us. No one believed that we would manage to win that. This is how I am; I always manage to imbue players with the seriousness and composure required from the very first moment till the last match in the campaign, in order to get what we want. It is far from easy, but I know very well where I am at. Just watching this room being packed with journalists makes me understand that there are only two possible results: to win and to win! Not even drawing is allowed, and I know that already. I will also tell you that during my years in Porto, I suffered only one defeat, because this is my mentality. I keep my belief until the end of each match, the end of each season, and I ask to keep our mind focused, so that we get what we want. This is the mark I would like to leave Olympiacos with “.
A few years ago, you have said that a big personal ambition of yours is to turn Olympiacos into Porto. Given that the man who led Porto to win its two most recent championships, how close do you think you are in realizing your dream both in athletic terms and from a philosophical point of view?
Mr. Marinakis: “This day belongs to the coach. I came here just to introduce him. It would be better if you asked him and you can ask the coach whatever you want; besides, he has many things to tell you. My press conference will take place soon and you will have the opportunity to ask me anything you want. Out of all I have said 4.5 years ago, I think most of them have been realized. We have said that we wanted Olympiacos to be self-sufficient, to keep on winning the championship and have a good spell in European matches. I believe that, in these 4.5 years. Most of these things have been met. Today, we have Mr. Pereira next to us, a manager of significant successes with Porto in the past. Porto is a starring club, a side that wins, develops players –and this is very important, and features some great scouts. But scouts do not suffice on their own, because no matter how big a talent may be, when he is called to put on the history-filled jersey of Porto or Olympiacos, then he will have to deliver. Then, you should have people like Mr. Pereira to help prepare those players and help their talent emerge despite the pressure. I believe he is the right man in the right place, to materialize our dreams”.
You take on the reins amidst the championship campaign, with Olympiacos being in dire need of more points in order to reach its major goal, to win the championship. Do you believe that time is the biggest obstacle you have to overcome, in order to convey the things you want? And how much time do will you be needing in order for the team to build this identity you said you wanted to give it?
Pereira: “In fact, this is not the best period for any coach to join a club. Every coach wants to take on at the beginning of the season, to pick and train the players, to prepare things the way he wants for a smooth kick-off of the campaign. Nevertheless, thanks to our past experiences, both I and my staff believe that only by means of hard and quality work, will we be able to ultimately convey what we want, the sense of identity bad quality in the squad. As for when. I don’t know if it will be in two weeks or a month; besides, I carry no magic wand to instill everything I want in the squad from the first match. Of course, I always remember that I am in a club where time is not abundant and leaves no room for pre-season training and eventual defeats in matches. I know very well that we have to win every single match we play”.
Click HERE to watch the Press Conference video.
Click HERE to watch the related photostory.
