Mitchell’s two plans for the games with Nantes and Panathinaikos

Olympiakos’ two games with nantes and Panathinaikos require different preparation and proper human potential management by Mitchell. The Spanish coach already knows how things will continue this week and the next 48 hours will show his mood.

As for certain players, the matter is clear. For example, Hames, Bakabou, Samaseku, Fortounis and Agibou Kamara will be training at full speed all week to be at the level Mitchell wants ahead of the derby with Panathinaikos.

However, others will have to wait for the 59-year-old manager’s decisions as some will face Nantes and others will take precautions ahead of the game at the Avenue.

Despite Olympiacos having more than three penalties in Rentis, it’s still clear that some footballers have to play against both the French team and the Greens. And that’s because in some positions – for various reasons – the equation doesn’t add up.

The data in the center of the defense and the goalkeeper

Papastathopoulos and Doi are very likely to feature in both games. Ba is injured (he sprained his left ankle), will miss the Nantes game and it is highly doubtful whether he will be included in the squad for the Panathinaikos game.

At the same time, Cisse has been complaining about hip problems in recent weeks and has not competed. And Retsos, who didn’t show himself in good shape in the ten minutes he played as a substitute against Freiburg in Germany, comes from a virus and his absence in the game against Lamia.

Someone will say that Embila’s solution can be used for the center of defense. In this case, however, the Frenchman will have to compete on both Thursday and Sunday, which involves a lot of risk. And Mitchell won’t take any chances.

As for the goalkeeping position, the Spanish coach relies on Paschalakis and it is currently not clear whether he will use tzolakis in the game against Nantes or use tzolakis in both games. Finally, we mustn’t forget that Olympiacos need to field a competitive side against the French in Karaiskakis as they want the win for prestige and points in the UEFA rankings while they didn’t win during the season in Europe.

In any case, Embila, Inbom Huang, Biel and El Arabi must be fresh and ready on Sunday. As well as based on Mitchell’s picks, which he counts as starters, Masuras, Reabciuk and Avila.

The breakdown of the squad in the two games

Paschalakis, Avila, Papastathopoulos, Doi, Reabciuk, Embila, Inbom Huang, Biel, Masouras, Hames and Bakabou are currently reported to lead the line-up for the derby with Panathinaikos.

With El Arabi, Brusai and Ba vying for a place in the starting XI. There are also the options of Vrsalikos in defense (if he can recover) and Samasekos in midfield (if Mitchell decides to field three central midfielders).

In the game against Nantes, Tzolakis at the post, Retsos in defence, Kunde and Bouhalakis in midfield, Ui Joe Huang and Aboubakar Kamara in attack could all start in the XI.

Of course, with absentees through injury, it will be necessary to go head-to-head with players Mitchell sees as starters or coming off the bench in the derby with Panathinaikos.