Villa supporters may recognise at least one familiar face in an Olympiacos team which has experienced one of this season’s most extraordinary European campaigns.
Daniel Podence scored in front of the Holte End on his most recent visit to Villa Park while playing for Wolves last season and the winger, currently on loan from Molineux in Greece, is among the biggest threats Unai Emery’s team must diffuse in tonight’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg.
Mendilibar became Olympiacos’ third head coach of the season when he replaced Carlos Carvahal in February and is aiming to repeat his feat of 12 months ago, when he took charge of Sevilla at a similar point of the season and led them to glory in the Europa League, beating Manchester United, Juventus and finally Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the final.
Such experiences and a career in management which stretches back more than a quarter of a century means the former midfielder is approaching the semi-final in surprisingly relaxed mood.“I don’t know if this is due to my age or my experience, but I have gone through a lot and I am not anxious – at least not until half an hour before each match.
Defender Omar Richards and midfielder Joao Carvalho are among the former Forest players in Mendilibar’s squad.
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