Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar spoke about Costinha’s red card and expressed satisfaction with his players’ determination and effort.
Here is what José Luis Mendilibar said in detail:
Olympiacos had a trip to make and only three days to prepare, and you played with one player less. How did you overcome the fatigue and force the opponent to be satisfied with a draw?
We had very little time to prepare, and the fatigue from the trip and the match against Porto was significant. However, when the mind wants, then the legs shall follow, and our minds were set. We were forced to play with one less player, so the ten players had to perform as if they were eleven, and in reality, they played as if they were twelve. They showed will and determination. In the second half, we suffered less threats than in the first. We could have scored a second goal, but we are satisfied because, despite the fatigue, there was a lot of desire, and we fought hard for the win.
You have never commented on refereeing decisions before, but the game’s outcome was influenced by the referee’s calls. What do you have to say about the penalty incident with El Kaabi and Costinha’s red card? Do you think there were double standards applied?
I will comment on the red card incident. The referee said there was a foul, and the ball was close to the player, so he could have shot, according to the referee’s view. However, we reviewed the incident and even saw it live as it happened. The ball was heading straight into Tzolakis’ hands; he caught it without even needing to stretch. The ball was clearly going toward the goalkeeper, so there was no immediate threat in that moment. There is often a difference in opinion between referees and those who have played football.
The fans left satisfied with the effort but disappointed that the win didn’t come. What is your takeaway from the match?
Everywhere in the world, people talk about whether you win or lose, but even more so here. However, I am focusing on whether we played well, poorly, or slightly better than expected. Today, we played well with ten players, so the team can feel satisfied.
How much did Costinha’s red card complicate things tactically, both in terms of bringing Kostoulas on earlier and in how the team developed with Mouzakitis and Hezze on the flanks?
How do you know Kostoulas was going to come on earlier? Hezze and Mouzakitis didn’t play on the flanks; they played more centrally. We wanted to play with three at the back and then bring Kostoulas behind the striker, the position Chiquinho initially was playing at. It wasn’t part of our plan to introduce Kostoulas earlier in the match. Playing with one less player meant we lacked a winger.
For Thursday’s game against Qarabag, how hopeful is Olympiacos about qualifying directly for the quarterfinals?
The only thing we can control, and the only thing I’m thinking about, is our own game. That’s what we need to prepare for. If we manage to win, I believe we’ll be able to advance directly to the next stage.
