Karim Ansarifad:
Congratulations to my team and our fans who stood next to us tonight. Tonight is a great night for us. I was happy to be capped in the starting line-up. I want to thank my coach. I was ready a long time ago and I just waited for the opportunity to arise. it was a special night for me. I am really happy. But let us forget what happened tonight andf focus on our next matches “.
-What changed at the break and made Olympiacos make a different start at the second half?
“In a continental outing, it is normal to have difficulties in away matches. We tried to control the play and we made it in the second half. We entered the pitch determined to score. The first goal came and then the others. We are really happy, it was tough, but we are happy to have made it”.
-Tomorrow is the draw. Any preferences? “As said at the beginning, we have to right to stay happy for 24 hours. Then, we have to focus on the league and our effort to stay top of the table. We also have an important Cup match. We have to keep on working hard. We will wait for the draw and see how it goes. However, we have to stay focused and work more”.
Panagiotis Retsos:
“It was quite an away win; a great night that earned us a qualification. Following our poor result against AEK, we needed this to keep up going. Now, we have the Panionios encounter ahead. However, we are happy with tonight’s win. I have to congratulate all my teammates, out staff and a particular individual who had a tough time because a member of his family deceased. We are really so happy and life goes on”.
On their mindset change and the side’s improved performance in the second half:“I think we ruled the match in both the first and the second half. After the break, we had some good transitions in offense that helped us score three times. Indeed, the feeling is great for us. Especially, after the second goal came and then the third one”.
-About the draw:“We will give 100% no matter what the opponent will be. We always aspire to qualify. However, now we have the match against Panionios and we have to be very careful with that”.
-On Androutsos fine dribbling charge in the second goal: “He made an amazing move, a top-class move. Match after match, he shows his true potential like all guys. We are really happy to have made it into Olympiacos First team and we will do everything possible to stay here”.
Nikola Leali:
-His comments on the match and his performance: “We were able to react in the first half, although our performance was under par. We had to face a side that stepped in really strong in attack. They tried to add pressure on us, to produce chances mainly by means of crossings, we had some good moments in defense since we were able to clear the ball and deal with that pressure. The final result is an important one for Olympiacos that went through a difficult opponent, like Turkey’s Osmanlispor, and of course continue with our campaign”.
-On the team he would rather be drawn against: “I hope it won’t be Roma or Fiorentina because they are really good teams. There is no preferred team. No matter what club we are drawn against, it will be most welcome and, of course, we will do everything possible to overcome them and make it to the UEFA Europa League top-8”.
-On the good atmosphere in the team following this qualification: We were very good in fighting this bad atmosphere after that defeat to ΑΕΚ. It’s really good for us. In general, our morale has been boosted, however, all things considered, things amongst us are really well. Relations amongst us are exceptional and my teammates are great guys. We spent lots of hours together at the hotel and, in particular, in the eve of fixtures, but when such results occur, then one gets a unique extra boost of morale in order to keep up. Tonight’s achievement was really something. We hope to continue our campaign and we will certainly try to go even farther in this year’s edition of the UEFA Europa League».
Tarik Elyonoussi:
-His comments about the match: “It is important that our team spirit was restored. We responded to the hits we suffered lately and, especially following our defeat to ΑΕΚ. We showed that we respect everybody in this team, this Club, our fans and of course ourselves. We proved tonight that we can react following a bad result. This qualification is important and we displayed a true team spirit”.
-On the goal he scored: “The timing was amazing, not just in the sense of the goal’s mechanics, but mainly with regard to the fact that it was registered right when we felt being under pressure in defense. We were able to respond and, mainly, to create that chance, which we turned into a goal. That moment was very important and I know that when we intercept the ball in the midfield, I have to outrun my opponents, so as to exploit all open areas and claim the necessary space from my marksmen. Kostas Fortounis pass to Thanassis Androutsos was great, he produced an amazing dribble on his opponent and so I found myself before my marksman, I outrun him, because I saw that we could cross it to me and thus I scored the goal”.
-On his preferred opponent in tomorrow’s draw: “It doesn’t matter what side we will play against. What counts is that we made it to the next round and now it’s time to celebrate this success, to enjoy ourselves and then think different starting tomorrow. We will examine our opponent no matter who they will be, it doesn’t actually matter. We just want to prove that we can face any opponent”.
