Olympiacos head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said his team will take a step by step approach in the Europa League following the league phase draw.
Speaking to broadcaster Cosmote TV after the draw, the Basque manager reacted positively to the outcome while warning that predictions mean nothing until matches are played on the pitch.
Mendilibar acknowledged that supporters and analysts will immediately begin predicting victories, defeats, and total point tallies for the Greek side. However, he insisted that the squad must focus entirely on performing during the upcoming matches rather than getting caught up in forecasts.
Olympiacos, based in Piraeus, entered the draw on the back of historic European success under Mendilibar. The Spanish coach guided the club to victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League, securing the first major European trophy in the club's history.
Historic opponents and fanatical atmospheres
Assessing the opponents drawn for Olympiacos, Mendilibar highlighted encounters against AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille as meetings with two historic institutions. He noted that Italian club Milan stands as the more historic of the two, having spent the majority of its history competing in the elite UEFA Champions League.
Turning to French side Marseille, Mendilibar pointed out that the team possesses fanatical supporters and highlighted the challenge of playing away at their home stadium. Marseille, based on the Mediterranean coast of France, is renowned for the intense atmosphere generated by its home crowd at the Stade Velodrome.
Mendilibar also evaluated ties against Czech side Sparta Prague and French club Rennes. He described Sparta Prague as a club that consistently delivers strong performances in both domestic league play and European competitions, emphasizing that they must be respected regardless of public expectations that Olympiacos should win.
Regarding Rennes, Mendilibar described them as a typical French team characterized by high physical fitness. He warned that his players will need to run extensively to match the athletic intensity of the Ligue 1 outfit.
Unfamiliar teams and pot four challenges
The draw also paired Olympiacos against Polish club Jagiellonia Bialystok and Slovenian side Celje, representing new opposition and destinations for the Piraeus club. Mendilibar expressed interest in experiencing new footballing cultures while cautioning that both teams are regular European competitors driven by high ambitions.
German club TSG Hoffenheim also features on the fixture list, a side Mendilibar believes is unusually strong for a team placed in the fourth seeding pot. He noted that the Bundesliga team displays great strength and high physical stamina on the pitch.
Mendilibar offered special praise for Portuguese opponent Torreense, offering them high congratulations for winning their national cup while competing in the second division. He predicted that Torreense will fight fiercely in every European match, particularly in their home fixture against Olympiacos.
Schedule preferences and European ambitions
Addressing match scheduling, Mendilibar confirmed that the opening fixtures will take place on September 16 and 17, followed by a long break in the calendar. He expressed a clear preference for travelling to colder countries as early as possible in the autumn to avoid playing fixtures during the deep winter months.
When asked about the prospect of bringing another European trophy to Piraeus following their Conference League triumph, Mendilibar remained pragmatic. He stated that the team would see if they could achieve another title, noting that the Europa League represents a completely different challenge, and reiterated that Olympiacos will take the tournament step by step.
