The new coach of Olympiacos, Carlos Carvalhal, held his first pre-match press conference. The Portuguese manager commented ahead of Thursday’s tie (14/12, 22:00) against Backa Topola in G. Karaiskakis stadium, for MD6 of the UEFA Europa League group stage. Daniel Podence spoke on behalf oφ the players.
In detail, find below words by the new coach of Olympiacos, Carlos Carvalhal:
Do you think the team is ready for your debut in such a critical match?
We are ready to play this important match. We are smart enough to understand those many good things we have in the team and make use of them. Then, we will build on these foundations and try to introduce our own ideas in the team. We have the advantage that we did not play last weekend and we had more time to work; There is also a con, that we played no match so we can see the team perform and our first one will that against Topola. We fully respect Topola. We know they have a strong outfit and that a draw also ensures we shall continue playing in Europe. With all due respect to Topola, we prepared ourselves in order to win the match.
Is it a drawback that the match will be played before empty stands?
There is no drawback because any player wearing the Olympiacos jersey shall have to give 100% of himself. There is no excuse not to do so.
You have spent many hours working over the past days. Can you tell us what new things we will see in Olympiacos? Also, are you a coach who will tell us, before the match, how the team shall play?
No, I won’t tell you the lineup because it is the players who have to find out first. In the past 10 days, all our focus has been on winning the match. Nobody can change everything in 10 days’ time, so no major changes have been made. However, we discussed on what we should pay attention to in order to win the match.
Podence: “I can definitely help the team”
Is it a drawback that the match will be played before empty stands?
I think there is one thing positive in this situation. The fact we are to play with no fans in the stands enables us to better communicate on the pitch, since there will be no crowd noise. We can see that as an advantage. Definitely, this is an ugly state of affairs and we don’t like that, but it reminds us of the covid period, when we played before empty stands and this is not nice. But we have to see what’s positive about that and what I just said is a positive thing.
It was against Backa Topola when you played one of your best games in Olympiacos so far. Then, you both scored and served an assist; are we to expect something of the sort?
Truth is that I have been trying, for a while, to return to a good state of fitness as before. Should the coach decide to cap me, I am definitely ready to help the team and I will strive for the best.
