Olympiacos’ Preseason Phase Two OVER: A Defined Identity, A Few Moving Pieces And A Squad That Looks Ready | OneFootball

Olympiacos are in the final stretch of summer build-up with something that matters more than any scoreline: clarity. The pressing structure is recognisable, the rotations are coherent, and the squad gaps are specific rather than systemic. With Italian tests against Napoli and Inter looming, the picture looks encouraging—if not quite complete.

The Non-Negotiable: Press To Win

If you were hunting for preseason tells, you found them in the way Olympiacos suffocated both a Saudi opponent and, more importantly, Union Berlin. Against the Bundesliga side—compact, low-block, and stingy in the box last season—the Red & White tilted the field for long stretches, forcing hurried clearances and stacking possession. The takeaway isn’t the result; it’s the method. Triggers are cleaner, counter-press reactions are quicker and the back line steps in unison. That is José Luis Mendilibar’s north star. It remains intact.

Midfield: Depth, Profiles, And A Clear Succession Plan

The engine room feels stocked and—crucially—role-aligned. Santiago Hezze and Lorenzo Scipioni profile as the “Champions League pair” in waiting: one an anticipator who hoovers up passing lanes, the other a bulldog who stifles attacks with his aggression and mentality. Diego Nascimento flashes the ball security and circulation to help in possession; the question is how quickly he assimilates to the press. Around them sit the experience, creator, and conduit: Dany García, Christos Mouzakitis and 18-year-old academy riser Argyrios Liatsikouras, who has looked fearless and busy in his cameos.

Put bluntly: if a substantial offer lands for Santiago Hezze, Olympiacos have already done some of the succession work. You’d miss his anticipation, yes, but the structure wouldn’t collapse.

Wide Areas: One Winger Short (A Left Footer)

Mendilibar’s preference is straightforward wingers—right-footed on the right, left-footed on the left—with the license to swap mid-match. Gelson Martins’ spark is real when fit; Remy Cabella has knitted combinations on the right with Costinha; and Gabriel Strefezza has shown why his crossing and work rate were attractive. But the shopping list still has a bolded line: a left-footed left winger.

Names have swirled, timelines have slipped (as they tend to late in windows) and a few targets have moved elsewhere. Bryan Gil remains the archetype for the role and the rumors; Cancellieri is the “not dead yet” alternative profile-wise as is Boca's Kevin Zenon according to Greek media. However, this needs to end with someone who can attack the byline, hit the back-post cross, and still survive the defensive load.

Centre-Back: A Third Option, Not A Cornerstone

The search here is for complement, not overhaul. With Lorenzo Piola the left-sided starter, the brief for CB3 has focused on a ball-playing profile who can step in without warping the build-up. Gustavo Mancha has been advanced enough to dissect publicly: smooth on the deck, fast across the grass, but not Carmo-level dominant in the air. For a third choice, that trade-off is palatable—provided set-piece protection is handled by scheme and selection. The only problem is that the club has to decide what tradeoff it wants. In recent days there has been a signal that club may prefer a veteran option with more experience over Mancha. If this is the case, the club needs to move sooner rather than later with its risk/reward preference as our targets have been getting snapped up all summer. Do you take a younger player with a higher value proposition? Or settle for an older, more experienced player with little resale value but Champions League ready?

Full-Back: The One True Worry Line

This is where the scouting department still has the most to solve. On the right, Costinha’s two-way growth threatens to push Rodinei into more rotation minutes. On the left, the Ortega–Bruno pairing feels “enough for Greece, light for Europe.” Bruno’s athletic tools are obvious; the final ball isn’t. If an offer arrives for Francisco Ortega, a recalibration makes sense. A higher-floor left-back who can mirror the right side’s overlap threat would balance this team more than any other single move.

Forwards: Continuity, Chances, And The Right Kind Of “Misses”

Preseason can lie about finishers; it rarely lies about chance volume. The nine role has produced shots, and—El Kaabi’s spurned chances aside—the movement patterns remain those of a settled attack. The club quietly resolved an outlier by loaning out Jefte Betancor before competitive minutes became a storyline. That’s tidy business.

Fitness Report: Mostly Green

The headline is what you want in August: no major injuries. Gelson Martins’ two-week setback isn’t season-defining; Giulian Biancone's training scare passed without damage. The group looks conditioned for the demands of a front-foot game.

The Kids Are Knocking (AGAIN)

Two academy names have forced their way into the conversation. Argyrios Liatsikouras has run himself into the staff’s good graces and scored; the press timing will come with reps. Winger Stavros Pnevmonidis has stacked production across friendlies (goals and assists) and doesn’t look out of place with senior pace around him. If one or both make the Champions League list, no one in Piraeus will blink.

The Market Stance: Grown-Up Business

A through-line of the last three windows has been coherence. Targets come from broader geographies with clear role fits; even “misses” have resale baked in. The reported sale of Velde at a profit is the latest example of a club willing to admit and monetise a poor fit rather than double down. Expect the gross spend to land in the ~€25–30m range if the winger and CB are completed, with left-back an “if the door opens” add.

Mood Music: Optimistic—With Conditions

In a live poll of supporters on our last live show, 82% described themselves as satisfied with the squad—43% already there, another 39% contingent on the arrival of a left-footed winger and a centre-back. That feels right. Olympiacos have a defined identity, real depth through the spine and a handful of young players pushing the floor up. Solve left-wing, reinforce centre-back, tidy up left-back and the group that returns to the Champions League will look like a team built for more than a cameo.

Next up: Napoli and Inter. The friendlies won’t crown anything. But against opponents who can punish sloppy spacing and slow switches, we’ll learn whether this preseason’s best feature—clarity—travels.