Olympiacos FC emphatically qualified in the group stages of the Champions League and was drawn in Group B where it will play against great European teams such as Bayern Munich, Tottenham, and the dangerous Red Star.

The leader of Olympiacos, Vangelis Marinakis, told a subscription channel that he welcomes the fact that the Piraeus team Olympiacos was drawn and said the team’s presence in the Groups vindicates the efforts that the players, the techical team, and the club’s management have made all this time.

The strongman of Olympiacos stressed that the challenge for the Red-and-Whites will be quite difficult but that everyone believes in the team’s capabilities and are optimistic that it can meet the challenge.

“I love uphill climbs,” Marinakis declared, citing the great Greek novelist Nikos Kazantzakis.

Olympiacos’ participation in the Groups

“Certainly it is a great vindication for all of us – for management, the players, and the coach. After hard works we passed into the Groups. We are especially glad and proud,” Marinakis declared.

Marinakis’ statement on Cech’s remark

As regards Petr Cech’s remark that Olympiacos is a traditional power house Marinakis stated, “In the last nine years we have managed to distinguish Olympiacos in the upper echelons of European football. We are very proud of that because it took a lot of effort,” Marinakis said.

On the Group

“Nikos Kazantzakis has explained magnificently why one must not avoid uphill battles. I love uphill climbs. We like difficult challenges. Bayern and Tottenham are great teams as are our brothers on the Serbian team. We believe in our capabilities. We shall be strong. We are optimistic,” the Olympiacos FC leader said.

Football player transfers

Regarding football player transfers Marinakis said, “We have already begun today with Yasine Benzia.Tomorrow, you will see the next player, Maximiliano Lovera. Yet we also have tremendous faith in our current players. They are the best in our country and brought us to this point. They will be leaders in European football as well,” Marinakis declared.

The names

“Names have been bandied about. You manage to publicise them in a timely manner. Benzia is already in Greece and our next player is arriving tomorrow. However, we love and trust all our players and we will do well,” Marinakis said.

On AEK and PAOK

“I honestly want PAOK and AEK to qualify. It would be good for the country. We are Greeks and our skirmishes notwithstanding Greece should move forward. I wish them good luck and the best possible result,” Marinakis concluded.