Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Michel: Job not done for Olympiacos

15:03

By: TBMU Admin On: 15:03   In:   No comments

Michel: Job not done for Olympiacos

Michel: Job not done for Olympiacos

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:50 PM PST

The Greek champions stunned their English counterparts in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first leg with goals either side of half-time from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell, taking advantage of yet another lacklustre performance from United. While Michel was thrilled with the win against such a prestigious opponent, the Spanish coach was quick to remind Olympiacos that the job is only half-finished. To beat a great side like United in the manner we beat them is very special. I cant hide my joy, Michel said. I feel proud of my players. It was a great moment for us. But we must look ahead to the second leg. We still have the match at Old Trafford. We expect a different United at Old Trafford, we have huge respect for them. Anyone who thinks 2-0 is enough to qualify is mistaken. 2-0 is not enough to get through against United at Old Trafford. We have to keep on working to make it through and make history. Olympiacos have only qualified for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals once before in the 1998-99 season.

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Moyes bemoans worst European display

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST

Alejandro Dominguez and on-loan Arsenal forward Joel Campbell struck either side of half-time for the hosts, who were superior to the Premier League champions for the vast majority of the contest. United's defence of their top-flight title already looks set to end in failure but, despite also being out of both domestic cup competitions, their performances in Europe have provided a crumb of comfort during Moyes' trying first season at the helm. But his team were unable to touch the form that saw them through to the last 16 as unbeaten Group A winners. "It's the worst we've played in Europe, that's for sure - a really poor performance tonight," United managerMoyes said at his post-match press conference. "We never really got going from the start and we didn't deserve anything because of the way we played. "We just never really got to grips with things and to a man you could hardly pick anybody out. We just didn't perform tonight. "We came into the game on good form, with a good mindset, but it didn't show. "I'm just surprised. I didn't see that level of performance coming. "I still didn't think we were necessarily two goals worse off in the game but we didn't offer enough on the night to create a goal." Moyes conceded that the visiting dressing room at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis was a bleak place to be at full-time but he retains hope of a famous European triumph to rival any Old Trafford has seen over the club's illustrious history when the return clash takes place on March 19. He added: "The players are hurting as well, they know how they performed. But it's a team here and we'll stick together. "There's a second game to come. Old Trafford has seen some great nights in the past and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing another one."

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UEFA Champions League: Olympiacos 2 Man United 0

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:36 PM PST

Out of both domestic cup competitions and comfortably adrift in the Premier League title race, United manager David Moyes spoke boldly this week of claiming Europe's top prize. The message did not appear to get through to his players on a night of toil in Piraeus. An instinctive 38th-minute flick from the excellent Dominguez gave Olympiacos a deserved lead before on-loan Arsenal forward Campbell ensured they will protect an two-goal cushion at Old Trafford on March 19. The visitors badly lacked a creative spark, with Moyes' decision to employ Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young in the wide midfield positions, while leaving Adnan Januzaj and Shinji Kagawa on the bench sure to come under the spotlight. Nevertheless, the embattled former Everton boss should have had his blushes partially spared when Robin van Persie passed up a glorious late chance. Top scorer Kostas Mitroglou's January departure to Fulham and a thigh injury suffered by seasoned forward Javier Saviola left 21-year-old Nigerian Michael Olaitan to lead the Olympiacos attack. Moyes' men made a nervy start amid a fervent atmosphere in Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis - Rio Ferdinand twice losing possession in a matter of seconds before Dominguez's resulting shot was blocked. Dominguez was Olympiacos' leading light in the opening exchanges and Nemanja Vidic was forced to make a last-ditch tackle to thwart the playmaker's storming eighth-minute solo run. United belatedly settle and Tom Cleverley might have taken a 17th-minute chance, slashing over when the host failed to clear a corner. Hernan Perez whipped a 26th-minute shot against the side netting and Olympiacos continued to carry the greater threat before going ahead in fortunate circumstance. Campbell's cross was cleared as far as Giannis Maniatis and, although the midfielder's speculative effort appeared harmless, Dominguez was alert enough inside a crowded penalty area to divert the ball past David de Gea. United almost found an instant response, Kostas Manolas heading Wayne Rooney's excellent free-kick from the left narrowly over his own bar, but an aimless pass into touch from Cleverley 30 seconds into the second half suggested their struggles were set to continue. And so it proved in the 54th minute when Campbell greeted Michael Carrick's half-hearted attempt at a challenge with a nutmeg before curling a measured shot beyond De Gea from 25 yards. With the tie slipping away, Moyes introduced Kagawa but Giannis Maniatis went close to adding an improbable third, chesting down and firing over after Carrick failed to clear. Olympiacos began to drop dangerously deep in the closing stages and United should have punished them with a vital away goal in the 81st minute, but Van Persie blasted off target having collected Chris Smalling's cross.

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The FourFourTwo Preview: Olympiakos vs Man United

Posted: 25 Feb 2014 12:00 AM PST

The lowdown Eleven points off fourth-placed Liverpool with 11 games to go in the Premier League, the Champions League now stands as David Moyes' last chance at turning his first season at Manchester United into anything other than a major disappointment. Before he can contemplate winning the thing, however, United must see off the 'unbeatables' of Olympiakos. The Red Devils topped their group pre-Christmas and stand as one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League, alongside Madrids Atletico and Real. Furthermore, United are yet to trail in the competition - a commendable achievement, though on the flip side it means we don't know how a Moyes United side will react should they go behind in Greece. And that's a pretty feasible prospect. United have gone behind in 13 of their 27 league games this season, with mixed results - only thrice managing to turn the result back in their favour, against Sunderland, Stoke and Hull. Olympiakos were widely considered an easy draw when pulled out of UEFA's hat, but the manner in which they are romping through the Greek Super League makes them dangerous opponents. Undefeated in 26 outings, with just nine goals conceded and 78 scored, the 40-time Greek champions are sauntering their way to title number 41. Indeed, since Spanish coach Michel took over Olympiakos have only lost four games - three of them in Europe including a 4-1 battering against PSG in their opening group match at the Karaiskakis. True, the Greek league is far from Europe's elite - particularly during what is a down period for Greek football what with an economic crisis that has scarred their progress - but Michel has described this clash as 'like a final' for his side and there is no doubt they will be highly motivated for what they will see as a big chance to progress to a first Champions League quarter-final since 1999. Olympiakos generally line up in a structurally solid 4-2-3-1 formation. Having lost their main goal-getter Kostas Mitroglou to Fulham and with Javier Saviola injured, Michael Olaitan, Hernan Perez, Joel Campbell and Alejandro Dominguez are likely to be the men to provide attacking impetus. Dominguez is Olympiakos' joint-top scorer in the competition along with Saviola and Kostas Manolas, provided we ignore the now-departed Mitroglou's three. United have never lost against Greek opposition, drawing two of their 10 outings and winning the rest, while Moyes too has experience of grounding the Greeks. His Everton side saw off Larissa 3-1 in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup and beat AEK Athens home and away in the Europa League (same competition, different label) in 2009/10. Player to watch: Marouane Fellaini (United) Fellaini's return to first-team action in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace after over two months out with back and wrist injuries was a welcome boost to Moyes' team. "I thought he played really well," Moyes said of his bustling Belgian after the Palace game. "Maybe he's needed a bit of time to settle and stand back and have a look at things, but everybody needs a bit of time to settle at times." Fellaini has singularly failed to impress at Old Trafford since his £27.5 million signing from Everton and missed a sitter at 0-0 at Selhurst Park, but did offer some glimpses of his qualities in that win. Fellaini could therefore keep his place in midfield alongside Carrick and will have to be wary of Dominguez, who regularly makes forward runs to support the attack. The Belgian has made more fouls per game than any other player in the Champions League and his niggly, persistent fouling has been an issue throughout in Europe thus far. He was lucky not to be sent off in the 1-1 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk but couldn't avoid the red card at Real Sociedad after stacking up the foul count once again. United are likely to sit deep in Greece and look for the counter-attack, and Fellaini will be an important part of that strategy if selected. The managers Known as an astute tactician, Michel spent most of his playing career at Real Madrid where he was part of the famous Quinta del Buitre era - the quintet of homegrown players that guided the capital club to much success.Michel won six league titles with Real Madrid and two UEFA Cups, helping eliminate Tottenham in one of them - his only previous experience against an English side. Opposing manager Moyes, in his first full Champions League campaign, needs a result in a tie United are expected to win. Facts and figures Man United have won their 4 encounters with Olympiakos, all in the Champions League. Olympiakos are unbeaten in their last 5 home games against English clubs in the Champions League. The last team from England to beat the Piraeus club on their own soil are Man United in October 2002. Olympiakos have faced 2 penalties in the Champions League this season but both have been saved by their goalkeeper, Roberto. Man United are 1 of only 3 teams still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, alongside Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Ryan Giggs (139 games) is only 3 games short of equalling Raul's record of 142 appearances in the Champions League. More FFT Stats Zone facts FourFourTwo prediction Olympiakos will be fired up but Moyes' United have tended to look more comfortable in European away games; the manager's more conservative approach yielding results in Europe and, recently, at Arsenal. 1-1. Olympiakos vs Man United LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone Meanwhile, on Screen Two... An early kick-off in Russia means you can get away with watching both games, if so inclined. Jurgen Klopp's Dortmundtravel to St. Petersburg to face Zenit in a game Arsenal fans might be eyeing with some regret, having fallen to second spot in their group and passed over a tie with Zenit in favour of a beating at the hands of Bayern Munich.Joint top of their domestic league, Zenit haven't played a competitive fixture since their last Champions League game - a 4-1 shellacking at the hands of Austria Vienna in their final group game in December. Will they be fit, fresh and raring to go? Or ring-rusty, out of practice and on the back foot from the off? From Dortmund's perspective, the game is a chance to put their Bundesliga woes behind them. An injury-ravaged season only got worse at the weekend when Klopp's side were beaten 3-0 by relegation-threatened Hamburg. This is the first time these two teams have met in UEFA competition, but Dortmund are unbeaten in their four previous matches against Russian opponents.Zenit new boy Jose Rondon has been cleared for action and could feature, while Milos Jojic and Manuel Friedrich are new registrants for Dortmund. Zenit vs Dortmund LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone

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Why Olympiakos are confident of ending Manchester Uniteds Champions League dreams

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 09:30 AM PST

Hailing from the port city of Piraeus - just a few short miles from Athens - Olympiakos may have a rich domestic history, but their record in Europe hasn't been anywhere near as glittering. At one point, the club were something of a laughing stock among fans of other Greek teams thanks to a winless away record in the Champions League that stretched to 31 games until a 3-1 victory over Werder Bremen in 2007. In recent seasons there has been notable improvement, with Champions League knockout stage appearances against Chelsea in 2008 and Bordeaux in 2010. Both those ties ended in defeat, which means that at the Karaiskakis Stadium on Tuesday the club will still be searching for their first-ever win in the last 16. The Greek giants will try to emulate their performance in the competition from the 1998/99 season, when they advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament and met Juventus. With Olympiakos minutes away from a place in the final four, Antonio Conte's fortuitous strike sent Juve through at the Greeks' expense. The 40-time champions can point to some similarities with their latest Champions League adversaries. Both clubs have suffered terrible tragedies, for starters. United had to endure the Munich air disaster in 1958, while the Greek club grieved the deaths of their own supporters in the Karaiskakis Stadium disaster of 1981, when 21 people were crushed to death trying to exit the old Karaiskakis Stadium after a league match against AEK. Like United, Olympiakos have been used to dominating on the domestic front in recent times. They are known as Thrylos, meaning 'legend', and their success over the last 20 years could certainly be described as legendary. After enduring a barren period without a league title from 1988 to 1997, they have been all but invincible on the domestic scene since. The club have lost only two league titles (2004 and 2010, both to Panathinaikos) since 1997, winning seven domestic doubles along the way. This success has come about due to the club's healthy financial state. Businessman Sokratis Kokkalis took over the presidency in 1993 and oversaw great success in his 18 years in charge. Now at the helm is shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, who has kept the club on solid ground despite the Greek economic collapse. For a long time, Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK were all perennial challengers for the Greek title, yet in recent times, a bit like Celtic in Scotland, Olympiakos winning the league has become something of a formality. AEK chose to drop to the third division in order to write off massive debts, while 'eternal enemies' Panathinaikos have also been beset by financial issues and forced to sell off key players. PAOK, from the northern city of Thessaloniki, have emerged as Olympiakos' newest rival, but despite their fanatical fanbase, in truth they haven't managed a sustained title challenge. Historically there has been an attacking philosophy at Olympiakos, just like at United. So much so that even in times of success the media and fans have slammed the team if the football on offer was not attractive enough. Though financial stability has been a key ingredient in the club's success, the managerial position has not been such a safe haven. There have been 22 coaching changes since the turn of the millennium – clearly one area where the philosophy vastly differs to Manchester United's. The expectations to win at Olympiakos are massive, and the resulting pressure enormous. Slovenian manager Srecko Katanec famously asked the media what all the fuss was about when the club was chasing a historic seventh consecutive league title back in 2003. He lasted less than three months. Current boss Michel knows full well about the pressure of the Olympiakos job. The former Real Madrid star has been with the club for over a year and is unbeaten in the league with 31 wins and four draws. Yet at the beginning of the current season he was under intense pressure, because although the results were there, the team were falling short when it came to picking up style points. Matters improved and at the moment he has the full support of the board and fans. Michel has already bagged one domestic double, but now he's chasing success in Europe. In a Champions League group that also included Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Anderlecht, Michel's men were inconsistent – though when they shone they were highly impressive. They were defensively naïve in their opener against PSG, yet generally more solid from that point onwards. They ultimately owed a lot to their Spanish goalkeeper, Roberto, who put in a series of sensational displays. The former Atletico Madrid player was subsequently rewarded with a lucrative contract. The sale of Kostas Mitroglou to Fulham in January left a massive void up front. This was supposed to be remedied by the acquisition of Nelson Valdez on loan from UAE side Al-Jazira, but the Paraguayan will miss Tuesday's first leg due to injury, as will the club's most recognisable player, Argentine Javier Saviola. The ace in the pack may be 21-year-old attacker Michael Olaitan. With 11 goals since December, the pacey Nigerian has been in fantastic form and has quickly risen to prominence. SEE ALSOMeet the men who could decide the Champions League last 16 ties Other attacking threats include Spaniard David Fuster, who customarily scores in the big matches, and Alejandro 'Chori' Dominguez, a journeyman playmaker who has scored nine goals this season. A new acquisition, winger Hernan Perez, has the speed and trickery to cause United some grief on the left flank. Perhaps the most dangerous player in the squad is Costa Rican Joel Campbell. The on-loan Arsenal wide-man has been a revelation since his arrival in Greece over the summer, and Olympiakos are determined to land him on a permanent deal. The team's Greek core includes emerging talents such as defender Kostas Manolas and midfielder Andreas, as well as national team stalwarts Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas and Avraam Papadopoulos. Of particular interest to United supporters will be the presence of former Red Devils goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who is now Olympiakos' third-choice keeper. The club's greatest strength may, however, be their home support. The atmosphere inside the Karaiskakis is second to none, and it will surely be rocking for such a big match. The interest in this tie is so huge that fans crashed the club's official website with more than 200,000 ticket requests on the day they became available. Current Nottingham Forest player Matt Derbyshire knows all about the club's home fans, having played at the club for two seasons. "With their supporters, Olympiakos can make it difficult for United and get a result which would give them hope for the return leg," said the forward. Aside from a susceptible back-line, Olympiakos's biggest weakness is something they have no control over. The low quality of the Greek Super League means this is not a team seriously tested on a weekly basis. Win or lose against Manchester United, Olympiakos will remain the undisputed kings of Greek football. The question is now whether they can translate that domestic dominance into something special in Europe. Qualifying for the last 16 is an achievement to be lauded, but this is an ambitious side who are hungry to take an even bigger step. Michel, for one, believes his side are capable of an upset. While he paid tribute to the English champions and showed his excitement at playing at "the mythical ground of Old Trafford", he sent a clear message that Olympiakos will be willing to go toe-to-toe with the three-time European champions. "We respect Manchester United but our aim is to become like them one day. Call me crazy, but I fear no opponents," said the former Sevilla boss. Against a team that have nothing to lose, United, especially in their current state, must be mindful of the threat the Greek champions pose.

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