Mendiliber: “We have consecutive games and we have to be careful in management”

Olympiacos returns from the break of the national teams with an away match against AEL Novibet (18/10, 17:00), as part of the 7th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League, with the aim of returning to winning ways after the defeat in the derby against PAOK.

The coach of the “red and whites”, Jose Luis Mendilibarreferred to the game in Larissa, the demanding program that follows for his team, as well as the need for proper management of the footballers.

The statements of the Olympiakos coach in detail:

For the duration of the interruption: “The fact that we entered the break after a defeat did not affect our preparation at all. I didn’t even think about it. We had already decided what we were going to do before the last game was even played. We knew which players would leave, which would stay, and the preparation went as planned, regardless of the result.”.

For the game in Larissa: “We have to be very careful. We must not give the opponent opportunities to harm us. We know that this is a team with a strong base and a warm atmosphere. We have to be focused throughout the match”.

On whether he thinks about the next two games in combination: “The truth is that we have to evaluate the players who have returned from their national teams. Let’s see what state they are in and decide accordingly. Depending on everyone’s readiness, we will judge whether and how much they will compete. This applies to those who were absent, because those who stayed here trained very well and are ready for any eventuality. But it’s not just the next two games. Until the next break we have seven consecutive matches, every three days, and that requires proper management”.

For absences: “We have two injured people who have been missing for several days, Strefetsa and Rodinei. We are also waiting for Bruno to return from his national team. Everyone else is fine and we will decide on the first match based on their condition.”.