Did you expect the match to unroll like that? Olympiacos set out well, had some chances until the 25th minute, but then it seemed like it somebody turned the switch down.
“I agree with you. We started the match well, had control of it, displayed creativity and created some chances. If we had converted some of them in these first 25 minutes, then no one knows how the match would have developed. Our opponents scored in their first or second attempt to reach our goal; this had an impact on how the match progressed. Following that, things changed completely and Arsenal displayed great quality”.
In previous years, Olympiacos would continue in the UEFA Europa League and that would generate some disillusionment. Is it a bet for you to try and have a good UEFA Europa League spell this year?
“We are not going to comment on the past. I wasn’t in the club, nor did I have anything to do with things in the past. This is a completely different squad. I have seen Olympiacos matches of the past, but I will not dwell on that. There are many things for us to improve and we will participate in the UEFA Europa League to get the best possible results. Of course, we have to wait for the draw and see what club we will play against. There are plenty of clubs in the UEFA Europa League. We will keep on working in the future with the aim of getting the best possible results”.
Club fans packed the stadium, created a fantastic atmosphere and ultimately gave the squad a round of applause. What message would you like to send them?
“Indeed, Olympiacos friends returned home in disappointment. We are disappointed as well, and I talked with my players in the dressing room. What I have to tell the fans is that I thank them for their attendance and support. We thank them because they were part of our success. We believe they cheered the squad as a recognition of our hard work to claim our qualification against such a top club. We got knocked out by a strong team and, from now on, we have to turn our eye to next match and see how far our team will go”.
Did you expect the squad to respond better after 0-1?
“The match remained balanced following 0-1. We also had goal-scoring chances. I don’t think our display got worse following 0-1. After the break, we conceded an easy goal in an unanticipated way. We were influenced buy that in the course of the match. We just kept trying afterwards. We had a chance to score after 0-2, but we didn’t do it. What mattered the most was that we were not effective in converting, contrary to Arsenal. We never quit the match. Our opponent’s quality also was evident.”.
In the opening 25 minutes, Olympiacos left side did great. Would you expect a similar performance in the second half?
“We set out really strong and tried to create chances both from right and left. However, in the second half, Arsenal’s second goal was a blow for us. Truth is that our side’s drive dropped, not so because we were different compared to the first half, but as a result of Arsenal’s second goal“.
The third goal conceded was what hurt Olympiacos the most. Did you expect for the match to enter the homestretch, while in 0-2, for you to take up some risks? It seemed there was some delay in your response.
“Indeed, our objective was, following 0-2, to take up more risk and keep on striving. We had that Siovas chance to score. Our aim was to take up more risk. We didn’t because the third goal wiped out all our hopes and signaled the end of the match. We knew it was late no matter what we would have done. Following 0-2, our objective was to react, however our failure to score meant that it was over for us”.
