Christos Kontis expressed his belief that OFI can be competitive against Rennes during a press conference ahead of the two teams’ Europa League match.

The Cretan team’s coach first addressed the loss to AEK, emphasizing that what bothered him most was the way the three goals were scored—all from set pieces.

Regarding the French team, Kontis highlighted the quality of their attacking midfielders, as well as the speed with which they can threaten in open space, while making it clear that OFI has no intention of changing its philosophy, despite the demands of the match and the pressure Rennes is expected to exert.

Here is what he said in detail:

“I’m not disappointed by the performance, but by the fact that we conceded three goals from set pieces. We weren’t in any danger from AEK; I watched the match again today. The result and the score are tough to swallow,” he said, adding that the match against Rennes will show whether the break affected the team’s rhythm. “They’re

a very good team with weaknesses. I want to believe that we’ll play our own game. When we don’t have the ball, we’ll struggle, because they’re a very good team, and when we have the ball, we’ll make them struggle,” he emphasized.

““We’ve proven that we have a soccer philosophy and identity. We won’t change much about our style of play, and we’ll play our own game to stay competitive,” he noted.

“We’re an ambitious team, and once you’re in a tournament like this, you have to view the next game as a challenge. We’re approaching it with respect, but also with the ambition to give Rennes a run for their money,” he concluded.

Giorgos Kanellopoulos spoke on behalf of the players; here is what he said in detail:

“We feel great; we’ve had an ideal start, we’re preparing quite well, and we want to continue as we began. We’ll give it our all to ensure we’re fully prepared.

For us, nothing changes. Our preparation is exactly as it should be, and we feel ready. We’re expecting a tough and demanding game, and we’re always ready—physically and mentally—to rise to the challenge.

I always step onto the court to give my best, just like all the other guys do. What sets us apart is that we play as a team. Whether I score or someone else does, that’s ideal. We all do the same.”

*photo source: KYPE