Olympiacos head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has confirmed squad changes will continue ahead of his side's Stoiximan Super League opener against Atromitos on Saturday.
The Greek giants host Atromitos at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus at 21:30, with Mendilibar stressing that the team's objective is to win every match while respecting all opponents.
Addressing the title race, Mendilibar stated that Olympiacos failed to win the championship last season because rival clubs now compete with identical ambitions and investment. He noted that Greek football has improved significantly over the past decade, citing OFI Crete winning a Cup or Super Cup as proof that smaller teams have become competitive title rivals alongside traditional powers.
Mendilibar also confirmed he held a lengthy meeting with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. He described the multi-hour discussions as positive, noting they focused on essential club matters and key decisions for the season ahead.
Transfer window activity and roster changes
On transfer business, Mendilibar explained that roster adjustments will continue across Greek football until the transfer window closes. He admitted that ongoing player movement creates nervousness within clubs, but insisted that players will continue to arrive and depart before the deadline.
Regarding squad selection, Mendilibar noted that Portuguese forward Jota returned to full group training on Thursday following an injury, giving him a complete squad. However, he highlighted varying fitness levels among recent arrivals, pointing out that Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler joined after five weeks of vacation while Armenian defender Nair Tiknizyan arrived two days ago after playing regularly. Both players were named in the matchday squad.
Mendilibar added that pre-season preparations hold diminishing value each year because managers spend weeks training with players who may leave before competitive fixtures begin.
Saliakas return and team ambitions
Defender Manolis Saliakas expressed his delight at returning to Olympiacos, stating he had always harboured ambitions of playing for the club he loves. He said the squad had trained well throughout the week and was determined to give maximum effort to open the season with a victory in front of their home supporters.
Saliakas noted that gaining high-level experience had helped him mature as a footballer, adding that he feels ready to help the club achieve its objectives this season.
Olympiacos, based in the port city of Piraeus, are the most successful club in Greek football history. Opponents Atromitos visit Karaiskakis Stadium seeking to disrupt the hosts as the new domestic campaign gets underway.
