Retsos: “The important thing this year is how we build a team, a family”

Mission to Austria: Heraklis Antipas

“Beyond the competition, the important thing is that we build a team, a family. And this is very important for the season”… THE Panagiotis Retsos spoke to the journalists following the Olympiakos mission in Austria after today’s match friendly game with Norgeland pointing out that in addition to the team’s competitive improvement, he finds that this year “a team, a family is made”.



Retsos focused on the appearance of El Arabi who scored today too… “It is very important for us to have him by our side, because we have a personality that is important for us younger players and for the whole team to be close to us”he said.

Panagiotis Retsos’ statements in detail after the Olympiakos friendly game…

What are your takeaways from the friendly?

“It was a very important game for us, a very good test. It was a young team in age, but overall they played very nice football. We saw things that we wanted for us, like the pressure up high that we want in our game. We saw how we implemented it. We saw a pretty good team. We stole several balls and it is a very important step for the continuation of our preparation and for the match we have on August 10”.

You are ten days in Austria. What do you see improving in the team?



“Beyond the competition, the important thing is that we build a team, a family. And this is very important for the season. Crucial matches are coming, very important matches. We want to be champions again. For me, this is the most important thing with this particular coach and the whole staff. We are starting to build a family and I think we show it on the field several times.”

What is your situation and goals for the new season?



“What I’ve said and I keep saying, the most important thing is to be healthy. I’m not saying this to cry, but I’m saying it because for me it’s the most important thing. In general, I wish everyone health. This is the most important thing. From then on, to improve, to get more games on my feet, to work because that’s the only way I will be able to compete and be a key player in Olympiakos. Above all, the most important thing is to personally become a champion again after years.”

What do you think of El Arabi, who is 36 years old, has already scored three goals. How do you see him every day and what does it mean to you to see Yusef?



“Yousef’s secret is that even though he is 36 years old, in and out of training, he is like a child. He is next to us. He has a very good relationship with all the players. It is very important for us to have him by our side, because we have a personality that is important for us younger players and the whole team to be close to us. And it’s even more beautiful to see him at this level and in this condition even now.”

How do you see the competition in the center of defense with you, Ba, Doi and Bagliani?



“I personally do not have competition with anyone, I have competition. Especially with Doi, Ba and Bagaliani we are very good friends. It is important to play with them, because apart from sharing a seat, they are also Greeks except for Ba who is slowly becoming Greek. I don’t have any competition, I don’t see it that way. We have made a nice four and it is important that they help each other. If I don’t help Doe or if Doe doesn’t help Ba, then we won’t get positive results.”



The departure of Papastathopoulos, an important football player, what space does it leave for you competitively and spiritually?



“I knew Socrates from Dortmund, when I was at Leverkusen and he had helped me. He was a footballer, a man who has stigmatized me personally. He was more than a teammate to me. I wish him the best, because he deserves it. Personally for me he is a legend. So let him have a similar end to his career, because he deserves it.”