Coach Ernesto Valverde is not ruling out the prospect of an upset at the Emirates Stadium tonight. The Olympiacos manager prefers to stay positive ahead of the Arsenal game.
The Gunners are coming out from their terrible run at the start of the season and Valverde is aware of their potential. Speaking to UEFA.com, the Olympiacos man shared his own analysis of his side’s Champions League fixture in London.
“It's going to be very difficult for us. The pace of Champions League matches is very different to the Greek game – very quick, very swift,” he avowed.
“Arsenal have a lot of quality players with a great deal of experience, but we have to focus on our game and try our best.”
Ernesto Valverde added:
“We know we are underdogs, but why not come here and try to give a good account of ourselves to try and get a result?
“Football is sometimes simpler than people think. The team that wins is invariably the team that imposes its own style on the match; the one that has to adapt its style often loses.
“So we will try to play our natural game and see what we can do.”
However, Arsene Wenger has urged his players to take Olympiacos seriously. In an interview with UEFA.com, the Arsenal coach explained that entertain complacency would make absolutely no sense.
“We have a lot of respect for Olympiacos. I've seen the game against Marseille; they played well. In the Champions League, you never win easy. You have a chance to win when you give absolutely everything.
“We [have spent] 14 consecutive years in the Champions League; if we have not learnt that, then we are really stupid. If you do not prepare properly, you have no chance.”
Arsenal drew 1-1 in their opening fixture against Borussia Dortmund whereas Olympiacos lost 1-0 against Olympique Marseille.
“It's going to be very difficult for us. The pace of Champions League matches is very different to the Greek game – very quick, very swift,” he avowed.
“Arsenal have a lot of quality players with a great deal of experience, but we have to focus on our game and try our best.”
Ernesto Valverde added:
“We know we are underdogs, but why not come here and try to give a good account of ourselves to try and get a result?
“Football is sometimes simpler than people think. The team that wins is invariably the team that imposes its own style on the match; the one that has to adapt its style often loses.
“So we will try to play our natural game and see what we can do.”
However, Arsene Wenger has urged his players to take Olympiacos seriously. In an interview with UEFA.com, the Arsenal coach explained that entertain complacency would make absolutely no sense.
“We have a lot of respect for Olympiacos. I've seen the game against Marseille; they played well. In the Champions League, you never win easy. You have a chance to win when you give absolutely everything.
“We [have spent] 14 consecutive years in the Champions League; if we have not learnt that, then we are really stupid. If you do not prepare properly, you have no chance.”
Arsenal drew 1-1 in their opening fixture against Borussia Dortmund whereas Olympiacos lost 1-0 against Olympique Marseille.
