Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar addressed the media, with player Gelson Martins also in attendance.
Mendilibar’s statements in detail:
What areas do you want to see your players improve compared to previous matches?
We want to be ourselves and show our best side. If we can present our best version and stay focused and strong, we will have the conditions to win the game. If we fail to do these things, our chances of leaving victorious are slim.
The Malmö coach said Olympiacos resembles a Scandinavian team. What’s your view of your opponent, and where do you think the match will be decided?
Malmö is a strong team, leading their league by a wide margin over the second place, and doing excellent work. I’m not sure how similar we are, but there are some parallels. In their last match, they drew, just like us. Before the break, they won their previous European game, as did we. We’re looking forward to playing them, and I believe they’re looking forward to playing us. Congratulations to them for their efforts; I think it will be a great game. There isn’t necessarily a key to the match –it might depend on who scores first–, but you can never predict how a game will unfold. A lot can happen in 90 minutes. Both teams have their style, and the team that can impose theirs on the pitch will win the game.
Against Braga, with a full squad, Olympiacos played their best game. Now that you have all your players available again, is this an opportunity to show what your team can do?
Whether you have a full squad or not, only eleven players will play, plus the five substitutes. It’s good that everyone is healthy, and we can choose those in the best shape. But we still need to pick eleven, and they have to perform well on the day and play their game. The players must stay focused, and that’s easier in European competitions because it’s hard to lose focus in such matches. Those on the field must remain concentrated and do what they do best.
After eight games in the Greek league, Olympiacos has dropped points in four of them. Do you think the players approach European matches differently in terms of concentration?
I don’t believe it’s an issue of player behavior, where everyone loses focus at the same time. It’s not collective – it depends on each player individually. What we need to change is our consistency. To win a league or a European competition, you must be steady. In Europe, you will certainly pick up points, but in Greece, dropping points makes it harder to win the title. We want to be more consistent because, sometimes, we may be losing but have the strength to come back. That doesn’t necessarily mean we lack concentration, but we need to be steadier. We can’t be highly focused in one game and not in the next. It’s a matter of attitude – some players aren’t as focused in league matches.
Gelson Martins: “We are only focused on the three points”
How do you expect the match against Malmö to go, especially after the result against Levadiakos?
We expect a tough match, as they all are. We need to come in focused and strong from the first minute. What happened in the last game shouldn’t concern us now. The only thing we need to focus on is how to get the three points against Malmö.
You were excellent against Braga, and Malmö plays a similar style. Do these kinds of opponents suit your game?
I enjoy playing in all matches and always aim to perform well on the pitch. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, but my goal is always to help the team win.
How do you feel after your injury? Also, you haven’t scored in Europe since August 2021. Do you think now is the time?
I feel good. I trained well throughout the week and, in general, I’m in good shape. What I want is to feel good on the pitch, and if I manage that, the goals will come.
What can we expect to be different from Olympiacos against Malmö compared to the matches against Braga and Lyon?
Our game plan remains the same, regardless of the opponent. We always try to do the same things on the field and don’t change based on who we’re playing. The difference is that we played Braga at home, and now we’re away. We’ll need to adapt to the conditions of the game and try to play as well as we did against Braga, which led to our victory.
