The year in Greek football was dyed in the red. THE Olympic He dominated OFI 2-0 in the OAKA final and won the 29th Greek Cup of his history and the double. THE Jose Luis Mendilibar He won with his third title with the Piraeus, after last year’s UEFA Conference League and this year’s championship, with the Vasko technician … looking at the team’s future and participation in the Champions League League.
After the clash, Jose Luis Mendilibar talked about the excellent closure his team made of the season, referred to the next season and participation in the Champions League, and also commented on the performance of the team’s new players.
For his part, Olympiacos leader Panagiotis Retsos said he was proud of the team’s course and stressed that a fantastic year was completed for the “reds”, in which they proved to be the best in Greece.
Mendilibar’s statements:
What is the feeling of Olympiacos’ coach in the 100th anniversary of the team to conquer the double and a comment for the team’s strikers who continue to score even now in the end.
I have not yet realized that I feel, in the next few days I will think about what has happened this year and what we have done. But we owe it all to the team and all the players who work together and have accomplished all this. But we must say that those who did not play enough are the ones who gave most of the team because they were always there for the team. For our strikers what to say, it is satisfaction for us. El Kabi continues to score, and Roman is always there to help the team, despite the fact that he has no consecutive matches.
Is this time at Olympiacos since May 29 last year, is the most intense time of your career?
The truth is, I never expected what would happen to Olympiacos when I came to the team. Last year we won a European for the first time in our history, this year the championship and the cup and we are pleased with it. We may have a complaint with our course in Europe, because we could do something more. Now we will think of our new year because the team is demanding and we will have to achieve our goals again.
In New Philadelphia in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League you said that you want the doubles of the team in the 100th anniversary of the team, now where you are seeing the Champions League as the next Olympic goal?
It must be our next project and we know how difficult and demanding it is. We have a contract for next year and our job is to present a good team in the League Phase of the event. Let’s have a good season and have a good picture. We know the difficulties of this project, but we are here to do it and of course without leaving the league and cup in Greece the new year.
All year you used a lot of players from young people, do you think it’s the time of these kids for the next step? As you also think that this final with the world from both teams can be a new beginning for Greece and thus be all the races?
If we want Greek football to go up the first thing to do is to see a stadium full of people from both teams, this is quite important. As for our young people, they are the ones who have to think and decide, as the club. Things will be done properly, step by step. Of course there will be suggestions, but the club should judge what needs to be done. They have to climb stairs with steady steps rather than huge steps, they are sure to go up in the future. But this decision is the club and the players themselves.
Are there shops in Piraeus that let you pay whenever you go there?
I am not a man who is circulating enough, but it is true whenever everyone comes out but everyone shows me a great love and they want to take pictures with me. But this is normal because things are going well now, but when they go, the opposite will happen. I would like to congratulate the OFI who was here as a finalist and who made it difficult for us to the end. Usually no one remembers the finalist, but I want to congratulate OFI on his course.
What do you have to promise for the new season in the world that was always with you?
All I can promise is a job, but I can’t promise results. Many times they say that when you work the results come, but this is not always the case, but we will continue to work and try.
Retsos’ statements:
For which trophy is heavier, the championship or the Greek Cup: “I think the championship. The league is generally heavier. It ends a fantastic year as we wanted it. We are very happy, all the kids have given too much this year and we are proud of what we have accomplished because we deserve it very much. We continue, we want to thank it, to enjoy it now and I hope we have health next year and continue to distinguish. “
For the secret of this season:
“I think the mentality. His mentality of not stopping, to be in constant concentration and readiness. We showed it, we didn’t scare OFI and didn’t see him disadvantaged. We saw him as we had to see a team that deserved to be in the final and that’s why I think we won and proved to be the best team in Greece. “
For the atmosphere at the OAKA in the final:
“We were missing because this is football. It is very nice to see fans from both teams. It was the perfect game and we are moving forward. “