Martinez: “We were pressured but we endured, we are a team that is now being built”

On the effort of his team and on the fact that he managed to withstand the pressure, he spoke in his statements at the press conference after the tie-qualification against Genk, Diego Martinezstressing that his team wants to keep improving, since it is now being built!

In detail what the coach of Olympiakos stated at the press conference:



On what qualification means: “It was the fulfillment of a goal even though the preparation was short and we only played six friendlies before Genk. I think that although the level of preparation of the two teams was not the same, in three of the four halves we did quite well. We were under a lot of pressure in the first half, but in this competition you have to know how to endure. Our team also played a role in the first, but also in the second game”.

On whether he was afraid he would lose his mind after the penalty and what he told them at half-time: “In the first half we were not pressing with the ball at all. We were not successful either in taking the ball and going forward, nor in continuing our game. The team, despite suffering in the first half, knew how to keep their concentration, quite well positioned on the pitch. After the replay, the team managed to stay together and withstand the pressure. He knew how to fight.

What was said in the dressing room is that we needed to have possession, more continuity in our phases and get into the opponent’s area. In general, at this stage we are satisfied. Some play more minutes than their conditioning level allows. I am grateful, we managed to take advantage of the positive elements and find ourselves in the next phase of the competition”.

For Alexandropoulos: “The most beautiful thing is that he remains faithful and that he has no objection to play wherever he is asked. He will have to continue to improve, he lacks preparation, he is new to the team, the atmosphere helps him, what we are trying to create in the team. We will continue to improve, today was the first step of many, we must constantly set goals and try to fulfill them”.

For the next opponent in Europe, Tsukaritsky: “Now we have one day to recover and start preparing for the championship. The joy of qualifying today will help us gain the energy we will need. We want to start well in the league, we are focused on Panseraikos.

At the moment we want to improve, we have a lot of things to do, we are a team that is now being built, it is important to share experiences and moments, no matter how difficult they are, it helps the players unite more. All that we go through together with the support will help to make a good team. Step by step to use the experiences to become better”.