Vasilis Vouzas:
-What crossed your mind when informed about taking on the team: “I am a professional coach. I always look for what’s best in my career. This is both a challenge and an opportunity to prove my skills and stand up to what this position calls for.”
-What has been the focal point of the side’s prep ahead of this match: “I need to stress all players are important and they all have to give their best. Our team-spirit must prevail and try harder to fulfill our objectives, one of which is to make it to the next round of the UEFA Europa League. Tomorrow we have a chance to start on the right foot “.
-On whither he wants to change something in the way the team plays: «I would change our effectiveness when finishing the chances we create. This has been the reason why we lost some points. I think it is very important. And in terms of defensive performance, we should not concede easy goals, especially in the early minutes of a match».
-Your message to the fans ahead of tomorrow’s match: «I think it goes without saying that the Olympiacos supporters always provide an extra help to the team. I would like to ask for their support towards the players. I fully comprehend that we have to change something in our mindset. I believe Karaiskakis will be… blazingly hot tomorrow and our opponents will have to face a squad that gets a great boost from its fans».
-On his ideas about how the play should be built-up: «When a team is after three individual targets, then I think all players may turn out useful and all may find themslves on the pitch playing. It is certain that all players will be considered «ready-to-play» until the end because we have a long series of fixrures to play in a very short span. We approach the end of the season and it is hard to keep themselves fit, particularly when the recovery period is short. That’s why I expect all players to raise their level of readiness and be able to respond in the best way».
-Have you decided on the starting eleven:«BothIi and my assistants run a full analysis of our opponent. We try to find out what players are available, who can serve better our side’s tactical plan and strategy drawn. We check their state of fitness. We have some plans in our mind, but everything is still possible and may change».
-What will be the key to unlock tomorrow’s match: «Besiktas is a side that likes keeping ball possession. They hit high ball possession rates in all their matches. They have some very skillful players with particular qualities. We have to contain their top ones. We have identified their weaknesses and we will strike them by implementing a strategy that requires adding pressure on our opponent».
Alberto Botia:
-What’s the atmosphere in the team after the change of your coach: «We are filled with confidence; There is a different air in the team. We will certainly give 100% tomorrow and obtain a good result. We have a new coach, whom we trust and we are looking forward to play the game and give all we got for a good result».
-On the feeling that Besiktas is the favourite and Olympiacos the underdogs: «We all know that Besiktas is a top team and a very strong opponent. I dont think they are a bigger club than Olympiacos. In our dressing rooms, one may hear some positive stuff, we have confidence. We are looking forward to tomorrow’s match, to playing well and giving all we got without being affected by whatever is being discussed out of the pitch».
-On the early goals conceded by Olympiacos in recent matches and the ways to improve that: «Indeed, this is something that has happened as of late. However, this is water under the bridge. We have left that behind us and we have our eyes only to the present and the future. We are looking forward to this match. Our mind is set on the things we have to do in order to obtain a good result. Players love fixtures like the one tomorrow; We just want to give our best for a positive result».
