Mitchell: “If we play like we did against Panathinaikos, we can upset AEK”

Mitchell’s message ahead of Olympiakos’ rematch with AEK.

The Spanish technician spoke to Cosmote TV and expressed faith that the “red and whites” can succeed, stating: “I don’t believe in miracles but I believe in reversals because as a coach and as a football player I have experienced it many times».

In a question about whether Hames will play (the statements were made before the last training session of Piraeus), who was permanently knocked outreplied: “we have a great Fortune».

What he said in detail

How does a coach feel when he has done everything perfectly but his team is not winning.

“Thank you for the kind words, because it is not easy for a coach to hear good words, it is not common. We can’t surrender right now. The only thing we can take from this game is that we are on the right track and so we have to continue to achieve our goal which is the championship.

A very good sign is that the players follow us and really believe and that’s why they always play to win. This is not the first time we are fighting for victory. We always do this and it’s not the first time we don’t manage to win. But this is how we will continue because football will justify us in the end».

Another cup derby with AEK follows. The question is, does the score of the first game turn around?

“All games and all results can be reversed. I don’t believe in miracles but I do believe in reversals because as a coach and as a football player I have experienced it many times. I have an obsession with tomorrow’s game and I will keep saying it. If we play with the same passion and give everything as we did against Panathinaikos, then maybe we will succeed.

If we don’t play like we did on Sunday, with intelligence, with passion, with power, in a proper way in the game, then we won’t achieve anything against AEK because they are a good team».

Should we expect a more aggressive Olympiakos than we are used to from the first minute?

“More aggressive is difficult to do, more stormy, definitely yes we want it because in the previous match we had many opportunities and unfortunately none of them resulted in goals.”

Problems with absences?

“We have the absence of Sokratis who is suspended and Embila who is injured after the game. The rest are ready and rested for tomorrow’s (today’s) game. We have many options and we will make the most of them».

Will Hames return too?

“Today we will find out what will happen to Hames. It is very likely to be found in the shipment. But if it is not Hames, we have a great Fortune».

How satisfied were you with the performance of Fortounis who was called to replace Hames in the last match?

“Very. The morning before the match against Panathinaikos, we talked about his potential. We talked about what he can do, what he can offer and why it matters that a player with his potential can’t show it every game, every day, every minute. I’m not very smart but it’s hard when you have a player as big as Kostas not to think about him for tomorrow’s game. We always knew his potential as a player, but the dedication he showed in the last game was very useful for us and very effective».