José Luis Mendilibar is focused on Thursday’s match (23/01, at 19:45) against Porto in Portugal, as he stated at the press conference ahead of the match for the seventh round of the Europa League League Phase. Defender David Carmo represented the team’s players.
In detail, what José Luis Mendilibar and David Carmo said ahead of the match against Porto.
Porto hasn’t lost at home in a year, they have a caretaker coach, and Olympiacos also faces Panathinaikos soon. Does this make tomorrow’s match more complicated?
I take it one game at a time. I’m not thinking about the Panathinaikos match at all – my focus is entirely on Porto. If I tried to separate our games, I wouldn’t be able to live! I’m focused solely on tomorrow’s match and on beating Porto. Even though, as you said, they are in a difficult moment, they remain a strong team, especially at home. That’s why we need to play well and be efficient.
Are you considering squad rotation, and how will this affect your decisions?
You’ll see the lineup tomorrow. That will tell you who I’ve selected, and you’ll know whether I’m thinking about the Panathinaikos match.
Olympiacos currently has the best defense in the League Phase of the Europa League, tied with Lazio. Was this something you planned when building the team?
No, I didn’t consider that at the start of the season. I’m not a coach who looks at numbers and statistics. I care about what happens on the pitch. Yes, there are many analyses –who wins the most balls, who has the most tackles or assists– but I don’t pay much attention to those. I focus on the overall performance of players during a game, and I base my decisions on that. I could analyse it differently, but I feel that it’s not just about having the best goalkeeper or defenders. It’s because we have good defensive organization as a team, and football is a collective game, so we don’t focus on the goalkeeper or the defenders – let’s not look at it this way. I prefer focusing on the overall picture and what happens throughout the game rather than singling out individual players. We are satisfied with our team’s defensive performance as a whole.
Why does Olympiacos traditionally have many Portuguese players?
That’s because Olympiacos has had several Portuguese coaches and technical directors over the years. Naturally, they brought in Portuguese players. The fact that they are still here means they’ve performed well and helped the team. It works for us, and we continue with it. Regarding the future, the team is doing well in all competitions, and while the transfer period may last a bit longer, we won’t discuss potential comings or goings now. The team is in a good place.
David Carmo: “We Need to Play with Intensity, Too”
You know Portuguese football and Porto well. What should Olympiacos be mindful of?
They play with a lot of intensity, always fight for the second ball, and are strong in duels – they will be driven. We need to match that intensity and strength and deliver a solid performance.
Given Olympiacos’ current form, is the defense its strongest aspect?
Our coach gives the instructions, and we follow his guidance. We will follow his directions and be as accurate as possible. Our job is to stay compact, defend well, and keep a clean sheet.
Porto is in a transitional phase with a new coach. How do you think that will affect them?
There will be more pressure from the fans, and they’ll want to prove they can overcome their current difficulties. That’s why they’re a team that always plays with great intensity, even more so tomorrow. We need to match their energy, play well, be focused and efficient, and fight for the win.
Do you have any specific advice for your teammates regarding Porto?
I don’t have any current communication with Porto players, so I can’t offer inside information. We’ll do everything we can to be fully prepared and ready to face them.
Do you feel hurt that you didn’t manage to make a statement as a Porto player, while you were here?
My time at Porto was very important to me. I gained a lot, but I’m happy at Olympiacos now. I belong here, and I’m doing everything I can to help my team.
Is Samu Porto’s biggest threat to Olympiacos?
Porto has many talented and strong players. Samu is one of their leaders and strong footballers, but he’s not the only one.
