Christos Kontis expressed OFI’s determination to be competitive against Bayer Leverkusen, during a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s match for the third round of the Europa League.
The Cretan team’s coach emphasized the need for focus and defensive discipline, stressing that his team must minimize individual mistakes and capitalize on the opportunities it creates. At the same time, he made it clear that he does not intend to change his game plan due to the recent negative results, while reiterating his confidence in OFI’s ability to compete for a spot in the next round.
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Here is what Christos Kontis said in detail:
On the big match against Bayer Leverkusen and his thoughts:
“It’s definitely a very tough match, just like the first two we played. We’ll be ready to face our opponents, and we’ll be ready to get something out of the game.”
On the key factors that will decide the match and what OFI needs to improve:
“We need to be careful in this match, as they’re a high-level team. We need to stay focused and capitalize on our own chances in order to secure a positive result.”
On whether previous European matches point the way forward for his team:
“Obviously, yes. Another German team, with a style of play similar to Hoffenheim’s, especially in the attacking third. A match with roughly the same characteristics as the one against Hoffenheim. Previous matches give us experience and show us the way forward. We want to be competitive; we’re not here just to participate. We want to play our own game in order to get a positive result.”
On whether the recent games can serve as a lesson for the future:
“Yes, in every game you don’t win, you’ve made mistakes, so they help you see what you didn’t do well and become better. Focus and defensive discipline are very important. We need to put all three games behind us, but learn from them and take them as a lesson so that we can achieve something more meaningful in the future.”
On whether he’s considering changing the tactical system following the recent negative results:
“Of course not. If we’re going to change the system just because we’re conceding goals or because we’re not getting the results we want, that’s not right. The goals we’ve conceded are due to our own mistakes. We know that striking a balance between offense and defense is ideal. I think you can always develop and improve a system. It’s not the system’s fault.”
On the aspects of Bayer Leverkusen that concern him the most:
“We’ll try to play our own game against a team that’s very strong offensively. They’re capable of playing at both a slow and a fast pace. Overall, they’re a team with a variety of options, but they sometimes leave gaps in their defense.”
On whether OFI can achieve its goal of advancing:
“I won’t change anything I’ve said before. Since we’re here, we have to be competitive. We were very competitive against Rennes. We may not have succeeded, but the team is showing that it can hold its own at this level. I’ll keep saying that we’ll go after those 6–7 points we might need to stay in contention for qualification until the very end.”
On whether, in a competition like this, one has the luxury of singling out specific games as opportunities to earn points:
“Had you singled out Hoffenheim and Rennes? The fact that we see it that way—and that we fought until the very end against Rennes—shows that it’s a game we want to compete for. We have nothing to lose. A loss won’t change anything, but a draw or a win means a lot to us. We’re motivated. We have to approach every game the same way. We’ll make things difficult for Leverkusen, and if they’re better, they’ll beat us on the field.”
On what has changed since the break and the dip in the team’s performance:
“Nothing has changed. We had a very good run of results where we didn’t concede any goals. I believe you can’t make too many changes defensively, as that disrupts the chemistry. We’re dealing with injuries on defense, which is forcing us to lose our chemistry. I’m happy with the players we have; we just need to realize that we have to be completely focused.”
On whether the players feel more of the joy of participating or the weight and pressure of such an important match:
““I believe we have nothing to lose and nothing to fear, so why should we feel pressure? We need to enjoy the evening, embrace it, give 100%, and whatever happens, happens.”
On whether it frustrates him that OFI concedes goals easily, even though they don’t allow many chances to their opponents:
“Yes, obviously. That’s what I tell the guys. Unfortunately for the defenders, they can play a perfect game and then one moment can cost us. Unfortunately, that’s just how soccer is. We all need to understand that those moments are crucial. We need to make good decisions on defense and be more mentally and intellectually sharp so that we give the opponent fewer chances to score.”
On the message he wants to send to OFI fans:
“We want a packed stadium tomorrow, too. The fans are the voice of the team. We always want to hear their voices loud and clear by our side. We’re doing our best to make them proud as we face a strong opponent.”
*Photo source: KYPE
