Ferreira: “We’re ready for the challenge”
The two respective head coaches, Abel Ferreira and Pedro Martins, shared their expectations for the Super League derby between PAOK and Olympiacos.
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With 24 rounds in the books, Olympiacos currently hold a two-point lead over reigning champions PAOK in the Super League regular season, but this is the opportunity which the Dikefalos tou Vorra have been waiting for. If they win on Sunday, PAOK will move into first position of the standings, a big psychological boost ahead of the upcoming championship playoffs. One round of the regular season remains after this game.
PAOK head coach, Abel Ferreira, thinks that his troops are ready for battle against Olympiacos at the Toumba Stadium:
Factor of playing against Olympiacos in several games: “Let’s talk about this game first. Each of these matches with Olympiacos will hold its own meaning. We understand that there will be a passionate atmosphere inside the arena, however our goal remains the same. We’re ready for this challenge, and we will do our best in order to win.”
High tensions between the two clubs: “We simply need to focus on our own task at hand. Our responsibility is to display our best football. We can’t control what happens off the field, and that would only take our energy anyway. Our desire is to beat Olympiacos at home in front of our fans. We must play in accordance with our own philosophy.”
Readiness for the upcoming games: “We certainly expect a balanced match. There is only a two-point difference at the top of the table, and it will be even more tough in the playoffs. At this moment in time, we want to gain as many points as possible, and we know that this is a great opportunity for us against Olympiacos. We understand what we need to do.”
How his players feel: “We feel confident, but it’s frustrating that Leo Jaba and Jose Angel Crespo are injured. Pontus Wernbloom isn’t 100% ready either. Nevertheless, despite those problems, we will begin this game with great belief. We want to give joy to our supporters.”
Olympiacos boss, Pedro Martins, spoke about the factor of recovering from the recent UEFA Europa League duel with Arsenal:
Disappointment of losing to Arsenal: “You learn things from each game. On Thursday, we started well against Arsenal at home, creating excellent opportunities to score during the opening 15 minutes of play. However, after that, the opponents managed to balance the match better. They forced us to change our tactical approach. Overall, I thought that we were still better in the second half, but we lost our balance after the goal which Arsenal scored. You learn lessons and move on. Of course, Arsenal have players of a higher quality, but we were better than them for a long time.”
Approach for playing PAOK on the road: “Our goal is always to win! My philosophy is that teams which play for a draw end up losing. We are well prepared for this match. Yes, we haven’t had a lot of time to rest, but I believe in the capabilities of our team. PAOK have a strong team, their players are fresher, they’re in the title race but we know what to do on the pitch. The statistics show that PAOK have improved defensively. The individual players and elements in the style of the teams will decide the outcome.”
