Olympiacos’ head coach, José Luis Mendilibar, expressed his joy following his team’s win over OFI and the extended lead from their rivals in the Stoiximan Super League title race.
Full Press Conference of the experienced coach:
Today was a special day with a celebratory atmosphere. Can you describe your feelings about the occasion, as well as your new contract and agreement with Olympiacos’ president, Mr. Evangelos Marinakis?
First of all, I must admit that before the match, I was afraid that, in such a wonderful moment, we might not get the result we needed to properly celebrate our club’s 100th anniversary. Fortunately, we managed to stay focused and secure the victory, which made this milestone even more special. We are now closer to winning the league title, and with my contract renewal, everything feels fantastic. I couldn’t ask for more.
A big day is dawning for the club, but the gifts arrived today—results elsewhere went in your favor, your team won, and you signed a new contract. If you had to choose one of these as a personal birthday gift, would you pick one now or wait for Thursday’s match against Bodo/Glimt?
Honestly, today’s events were already a gift—right on the eve of the club’s anniversary and five days before my own birthday. The upcoming match is extremely important, so we will have to wait a few days, as our motivation is high to win and progress. Everything went as planned today, and we want the same for that match as well.
Ahead of the Bodo/Glimt game, what is the status of El Kaabi and Horta?
Of our four injured players—El Kaabi, García, Horta, and Kostoula—I believe three will be available, provided nothing unexpected happens before then.
You mentioned feeling some anxiety, yet despite the 1-0 scoreline, you introduced three young players in this match, with one making his debut (Lolis). Also, the announcement of your contract renewal over the stadium speakers was celebrated more than a goal.
I want to thank Olympiacos’ incredible fans for the love they show me every day. Regarding the young players, our plan was to bring them on earlier, but since the score remained 1-0, we had to delay due to the risk of an equalizer. However, we were determined to give them playing time so they could integrate further into the squad.
Recently, I saw you in the Netflix documentary on La Liga. Back then, did you imagine what could come next in your career?
At the time, I had already been out of Sevilla for a while, so I was open to new opportunities. If Olympiacos had approached me three months earlier, I might have said no. But when the offer came, I called two friends who had been here before, and they told me, “Go for it.” I listened to them, came here, and now, after winning a European trophy, reaching the last 16 in Europe, and being on the verge of a league title—I couldn’t have dreamed of a better outcome.
After a tough result in Norway, how do you keep the squad disciplined and able to bounce back immediately?
As I mentioned earlier, I was worried about this match. I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation after our first loss in four months. We conceded three goals in Norway and were affected by the celebratory atmosphere here. But ultimately, it’s the players who take the field—they must be brave and get the win, even on nights when we don’t play well. We created chances but didn’t score more goals. Still, we’re happy to have won and combined it with our club’s centennial celebrations.
You’ve won the UEFA Europa Conference League and are close to securing a domestic double. What are your next goals with Olympiacos?
Let’s finish this season first. We still have many objectives ahead. Right now, we’re focused on this year, and next year seems far away at this moment.
Last year, after losing 1-4 to Maccabi Tel Aviv, you renewed your contract and then progressed. This year, we lost 3-0 to Bodo/Glimt, and again, you renewed. Should we expect a similar turnaround?
For those who are superstitious—yes, they should!
