The uniqueness of tomorrow’s match, which is OFI’s first in the Europa League group stage and, more broadly, in the group stage of any European competition, was highlighted by Christos Kontis at the match’s press conference.
The Greek coach then pointed out that his players shouldn’t just enjoy the match, but made it clear that there is also a goal to achieve.
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For this reason, he stressed that they must remain completely focused, as they need to accumulate points and strive to qualify for the next round.
Here is what Christos Kontis said in detail:
On whether they feel the pressure and what will motivate them to push the limits even further:
“It’s a historic game; it’s the first time we’ll be playing in the group stage. It’s a series of eight games where we need to earn points, and the goal is to advance to the next round.
We won’t be playing this game without pressure; we’re facing a good team that’s high in the league standings and has played in the Champions League. On the other hand, as a club, we see this as an opportunity. There’s no pressure; it’s an opportunity to prove that we deserve to be here.
We’ve worked hard to get here. We won the final and beat CSKA Sofia twice. Let’s not just enjoy it—let’s play with all the seriousness we can muster, give it our all, and prove that we deserve to be here.”
On his approach to OFI and what might be different:
“They’re a team characterized by intensity, relentless running, high pressure, and man-to-man defense. We’re not changing our identity, but we’ll inevitably have to adapt to our opponent.
I can’t reveal what we’ll do, but we’ll try to perform at a very high level. We’ll need to bring the same intensity—when we defend, we must defend well; when we press, we must press effectively.
We need to maintain a balanced game both offensively and defensively; we need to give the fans what they need so they can give us back the intensity we require.”
The motto for the final was “we don’t want to just go through the motions, but to truly live each game,” and that’s how OFI will continue:
“Obviously, if you’re not aiming for victory, there’s nothing else. I’ve emphasized that we must play to win, regardless of the opponent.
Our hard work has brought us this far; our team spirit shines through, and in tough games, the players show their character. Tomorrow we’ll need courage to play our own game and make our presence felt.
Before the game, Hoffenheim may be the favorite, but once the game starts, two teams are competing for the three points.”
On the minimum goal—what would make him happy:
“Personally, if you ask me, I’d like us to reach 9, 10, or 11 points, but we’re always focused on the next game. We need to get our first points—I’d prefer it to be three.
Step by step, we’ll rack up points and take stock at the end. With our fans at the stadium, we’ll try to get those first points.”
On the mental approach:
“Hoffenheim is on the same level as Olympiacos; tomorrow we’ll face Hoffenheim with respect. We never stop dreaming; we want another challenge—why shouldn’t tomorrow mark the beginning of this journey that makes us dream?
We’ll have to do our job to the absolute best of our ability—and maybe get a little lucky in certain moments—but we won’t stop dreaming.”
On his speech:
“I always try to prepare something; I’m always thinking things through; I always have something in mind. When I see them for the first time, I’ll speak from the heart—that’s what I tell them— a speech emerges with elements I’ve thought of, but also what I see in their eyes.
A puzzle is formed from these thoughts, designed to lift their spirits. I always say that the players do the work on the field; we just guide them. I always tell them to have courage and make good decisions.”
On big wins:
“For a coach, the ultimate goal is to play your own style of game at any opponent’s home field. You can’t dominate for too long, but when you do, you have to do it with intensity.
We played our own way—we’ve always done that—and tomorrow we’ll need to do the same when we have the ball. Our style and our character have brought us this far. Everything we’ve planned and put into practice over the past year—we’re improving; we haven’t reached 100%, it’s difficult, but we’ve gotten to a good level.
The players need to be aware of what’s happening on the field and make the right decisions, because they’re the ones who determine the outcome of the game. I’m happy when we win games our way.”
On what he wants to show the fans watching the match across Europe:
“We want to make a splash in Europe, too. If we do it our way, it will be significant.
These are games that the whole world watches; it’s motivation for the players to show that Greek teams have become more competitive. We’d like to showcase our style of play; hopefully, through this match, we can demonstrate how much the club has grown.”
Taxiarchis Fountas spoke on behalf of the players:
On what it’s like to experience a night like this with OFI: “There’s something special about OFI; it’s unique because it’s been many years since the team last played in Europe—it’s a beautiful thing.”
On the winning mindset following the team’s start: “From the beginning, I’ve said that mentality is everything. We’re doing very well; every game is tough, and we’re not looking ahead to see who our next opponent is. Right now we’re in great shape; we got a positive result at Karaiskakis Stadium. We’re ready to get another positive result.”
On fan turnout and a message to the fans: “What we want is for them to stand by us through thick and thin. Let’s fill the stadium tomorrow—which we will—so they can give us that extra boost and help us get a positive result tomorrow.”
On how they view Hoffenheim: “They’re a good team; we’re trying to play our own game. We’ll exploit any open spaces we find to create chances and threaten Hoffenheim.”
On the motivation of the tournament: “These tournaments are huge; we look forward to these games, we prepare for them, because a lot of people are watching; it gives us extra motivation to show how good a team we are and to take the team far, both in Europe and in the league.”
On defense: “As long as you hold the back line, you have a chance to score and win. Every phase of the game is important; defense carries more weight, but all lines are crucial, and we have to help one another.”
*Photo source: KYPE
