Mr Marco Silva:
On how the team has prepared for the match against Dinamo: “We prepare the same way for every game and we did nothing different now. The training is the same, everything is the same. We always do the same things for every match. We pay the same importance. On whether the match is decisive, well, I don’t believe it is. If there is a match that will determine our future, then this is the last match in the group stage. We know that the match against Dinamo is difficult. We also know that it’s important and it raises our ambitions to qualify for the next round. The qualification will not be determined tomorrow. The last match is the decisive one.”
On whether it’s important for Olympiacos to score first in the match: “It’s always important; it’s always helpful for a team when they score the first goal. It’s a positive thing. But it’s not decisive. The important thing is that we are well prepared to score a goal. If we do this, then so much the better. If we do not make it and our opponents score the first goal, then we must be prepared and have the mental strength to make a comeback. You said it yourselves that in all these matches, when the team led the score, then we hardly ever lost the game. We are prepared to face anything and we need to deal with the match as it’s played.”
On whether he is afraid of any qualities of the opponent or whether everything will depend on the performance of Olympiacos: “I never use the word “afraid”. It’s a word I never want to hear used by the team in the locker room. We are not afraid of something. However, not everything depends on us. We play in the UEFA Champions League, we are aware that the fact that the opponent participates in it means that they must have something. The important thing is for us to be better during the game. The fact that we keep winning does not mean that we will definitely win this match as well. The important thing is to prove our superiority against our opponents.”
On whether he will field Hernani or whether Olympiacos will play with two forwards: “These questions need to wait until tomorrow, both on whether I will field Hernani or whether we will play with two forwards. As usual, the players will be the first to know and then the rest will be informed.”
On how he thinks tomorrow’s match will evolve: “As regards the tension you talked about, this match is no different than any other match. Even in the latest championship match or the latest UEFA Champions League match, we dealt with things the same way. I will not change anything. As regards tomorrow’s match, we performed indeed very well in Zagreb, despite playing against a team that had won 50 matches in a row. The fact that we stopped their streak says a lot about our success and how difficult it was to achieve it. It’s a team that will give us a hard time. We also had a hard time in the previous match, during the first half. They are very good in counter-attacks and what we must do is hold out in order to be more effective than them. We prepared the previous match in the best possible way, but I believe this will be a different match. We will be clear about our intentions from the beginning: we will attack, we will try to score a goal and win the match.”
Omar Elabdellaoui:
On whether Olympiacos are prepared for this season’s most important match: “I believe we are well prepared; we dealt with all matches with equal gravity. We are ready and we will approach this match the same way we did all previous matches.”
On whether Olympiacos are the favourite to win this match: “It doesn’t matter who the favourite is. We are well prepared, we focus on our target and we have the same morale as in all matches. We know that nothing is easy; we approach all matches the same way in order to win.”
On whether this match will be more difficult than the match in Zagreb: “I believe it will be at least equally hard. The match in Zagreb was hard and tomorrow’s match, if not harder, will be at least equally hard.”
On his condition: “Yes, the truth is that I have played many games, but I feel well. I am ready.”
On how he feels about the team returning to home matches, following two away victories: “The fact that we won two away matches and we now return home is important. We are good in home matches because we prepare the games the same way: in order to win them.”
