Olympiacos boss Jose Luis Mendiliber has thanked the Greek football authorities for giving his team extra time to prepare for next week's Europa League showdown with Rangers.

Rangers face the Europa Conference League winners next week in a tricky tie in Athens.

Olympiacos were due to play a league match against Panserraikos tomorrow, but it has been brought forward to today instead to give them more time to prepare for their midweek European game against Philippe Clement's men.


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And the club's Spanish boss Mendiliber was delighted to get more time to prepare.

He said: "We at last have some extra time to prepare for the European match with Rangers next week which we are very happy about, so we give thanks for that.

"That extra day is very important and allows us to rest and prepare for the game.

"We have been working very hard in training and focussing on how to break down teams' defences.

"Now we have two home matches against Panserraikos and Rangers where we will be expected to play aggressively and attack the opposition.

"We have a lot of new players in the squad and it has taken time for them to fit in. But we also have a lot of good, experienced players and they are the ones we rely on."