'We had spoken' - Onyemaechi reveals Olympiakos teammate's tip helped him silence AEK winger

Bruno Onyemaechi has credited his Olympiakos teammate Francisco Ortega for helping him keep AEK Athens winger Niclas Eliasson quiet during their emphatic 6-0 victory in the Greek Cup semifinal on Wednesday, February 26.

The Nigerian defender delivered a solid performance as Olympiakos dominated AEK at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. 

Speaking after the game, Onyemaechi revealed how a conversation with Ortega played a key role in his approach to marking the Swedish winger.

"We had spoken with Ortega and he gave me advice. We know he is a strong player. I followed Ortega’s advice and it helped me a lot," Onyemaechi told Cosmote TV, via Gazzetta Greece. 

The 25-year-old, who joined Olympiakos from Portuguese club Boavista in the January transfer window, played a crucial role in ensuring the visitors struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities. 

His defensive discipline and awareness contributed to Olympiakos' dominant display, which saw them dismantle AEK with a ruthless attacking performance.

Onyemaechi also highlighted the influence of Olympiakos head coach José Luis Mendilibar in motivating the team to secure an unassailable lead in the first leg.

"Our coach told us to be focused, to forget about the next match and to finish qualifying today. That was the motivation."

The comprehensive victory underlines Olympiakos' strength in the competition as they now hold a commanding advantage ahead of the second leg. 

Onyemaechi’s impressive outing is another sign of his smooth adaptation to Greek football, and his growing partnership with teammates like Ortega bodes well for the club’s defensive solidity.

With Olympiakos in pole position for a semi-final berth, Mendilibar’s side will look to maintain their momentum as they continue their quest for silverware in both domestic and European competitions.

Wale Adejumo

Photo Credit: olympiacos.org

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