Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance during the post-match press conference after their 2-1 victory over Bodø/Glimt at “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium.
In detail, the statements of the experienced Olympiacos coach:
A night of mixed emotions. Olympiacos did not deserve to be eliminated after such an outstanding performance, but the victory is still important for next season and your Champions League aspirations. What are your thoughts on this match, and what did you make of the atmosphere in the stadium?
We need to win the championship so we can start planning for the Champions League and next season. We have six games ahead of us, and everything is up to us. We came into the match strong and determined, applying intense pressure in the first 35 minutes and pinning the opposition in their own box. We created chances and unsettled them, but the goal did not come. It was similar to what happened in Norway, where they played better than they did here, yet the scoreline did not reflect the game. Ultimately, it is not about who creates the chances but who scores. They were more clinical over the two legs, and this time, they managed to score even though they had almost no opportunities. We are disappointed because we wanted to go further in Europe. It is frustrating to be eliminated, but we are proud of our strong performance, and we believed in the comeback. As for our fans, what can I say? I feel immense gratitude toward them. They arrive an hour before kickoff and fill the stadium. When a team needs three goals but concedes first, it needs its fans behind it to keep pushing. Our supporters gave us the courage to keep going, and that is how we scored twice and won the game.
In Seville, there are reports of fans who are still emotional about your departure. Have you heard about this?
My time in Seville was short, but I have fond memories. We saved the team and won a European title; it was a brief stint. The fans welcomed me warmly when I arrived. This team gave me the opportunity to coach in European competitions and win trophies in Europe.
Despite the 3-0 defeat in Norway, the entire Olympiacos organization believed in the comeback. The team fought until the very end, which is a testament to your influence. Where do you think tonight’s match was decided, and could you comment on the starting lineup?
I have joined a club that has winning in its DNA and always strives for victory. I have introduced a playing style that suits us. Additionally, I have found players who believe in themselves and can execute what we ask of them on the pitch. This approach aligns well with the team, but victory is in the team’s DNA. We all believed we could score four goals, but conceding from their first real opportunity made things difficult for us. However, we did not give up – we missed a penalty and that is when we realized that our chances were slipping away, but we still didn’t give up. Regarding my starting lineup, I considered our initial game plan and which players to keep on the bench and use later on in the game, depending on how the match unfolded. You never know beforehand whether your decisions will be successful, but I am pleased with how the team performed and how the match played out.
This is your first knockout stage elimination. What do you and the team take away from your matches against Bodø/Glimt?
I think that in the first leg in Norway, despite having more chances, we conceded more goals because we were too preoccupied with the opponent; worrying about the stadium, the weather conditions, and the unique aspects of the match. Even though we played well, we were not fully focused on ourselves. The lesson we take from this is that it does not matter who the opponent is; what matters is that we stay true to ourselves.
