PAOK skipper Adelino Vieirinha said:

«Thankfully we won. It was the result we wanted. We knew it would be hard to get it in Olympiakos’s ground. Last season we lost here because of a similar goal. We were in control last year, not so much tonight. The result is all that matters though. Having started the season with a two-point deduction, it’s very important for us to lead the standings now.

Three points acquired against AEK Athens and three more against Olympiakos. It was a derby, but as I have repeatedly said, what matters is winning. If we can play a different kind of football, so be it. If not, then we need to get the result.

Lucescu wants to say what we all feel –about what happened in the league last season with the two sides we faced this week. We wanted to prove this season that we are the better team –just like we proved it last season. We don’t forget what happened. We want to move on, prove our worth and achieve all our objectives by the end of the season«.

Diego Biseswar underlined the following:

«It was a tough match for us. Olympiakos started well but we found our balance later. We scored and then it was only natural that Olympiakos would pressure us –they were playing at home after all. They had opportunities to score, mainly from set pieces, but we were lucky. They have a good side, but so do we.

It was a good match overall. The positives outnumber the negatives and I can safely say that all players are happy to play for their team-mates. Today our team proved that we are constantly improving.

The presence of foreign referees is good for everyone, especially for Greek football, that needs to expand its horizons. My only concern is winning, I don’t care about the referee«.

Alexandros Paschalakis stole the show on Sunday. He spoke about the encounter against Olympiakos and had only nice things to say about his counterpart Andreas Gianniotis:

«It was an important effort from all of us. We faced a strong team and got three very important points. Upcoming encounters are equally tough.

Our work since the start of the week helped us achieve this result. It’s a team effort, not only my performance. We need to focus on that, our team effort. All guys ought to be congratulated.

We have repeatedly said that we must focus on winning every match. This season has been demanding right from the start. We are on the right path and we need to continue like that. We knew beforehand it would be a very tough game and wanted to bring our own characteristics on the pitch.

We wanted to impose our pace, our game. Olympiakos started well, but we managed to hold on to the ball and score a winning goal. Everything happens in football.

A keeper shouldn’t be judged by one error. Gianniotis is one of the best goalkeepers in Greece. We shouldn’t evaluate him from an error. It’s important for a Greek goalkeeper to get opportunities. He should be supported in order to show his fine potential.

We were very focused in the game. We were compact as a family. We hold on to these three points –nothing more. Since our rivals have the same objectives, this feels like a six-pointer. We need however to work on things that didn’t go well and produce more attractive football.

We are going to Belarus to win. A draw is never an option for us, regardless if it’s a domestic or a European encounter. This match is crucial and we need to focus on it come tomorrow«.