Goals domestically, goals in the Champions League and goals in World Cup qualifiers - Kostas Mitroglou is the name on everyone's lips this season

KOSTAS MITROGLOU

OLYMPIAKOS & GREECE





2013-14 SEASON CLUB STATS Appearances 15 Goals 17

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Caps 28 Goals 8



By Peter StauntonWhile Cristiano Ronaldo was busy putting Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his Sweden cohorts to the sword in the World Cup play-offs, away from the spotlight, Kostas Mitroglou was doing the same to Romania. Three of Greece's four goals over the two legs were scored by the Olympiakos forward as a safe passage was granted to the Greeks for Brazil 2014."MITROGLYCERIN" screamed Marca alongside a photo of Mitroglou conducting his now familiar Pistolero celebration. Over the course of those two games, Mitroglou continued the sort of form that has brought him widespread acclaim in 2013-14. Fourteen goals in 10 Superleague matches, crucial strikes in the World Cup qualification programme and an outstanding Champions League hat-trick against Anderlecht - the first-ever by a Greek - mean Mitroglou is the name on everyone's lips and on all the back pages.The furore has reached such a stage that Antonis Apostolopoulos, his agent, was moved to issue a statement confirming that his client has no plans to move on.Not that the man himself is getting carried away. "I'm focused on Olympiakos," he said when questioned by reporters about his future earlier this month. "We want to do the double with the Olympiakos and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League."The problem with having an outstanding striker in any team of a relatively modest calibre is that he stands out like a sore thumb. Emerging goalscorers do not stay off the radar for long and it is inevitable that the club in possession of the player will be fending off enquiry after enquiry from the press and rival clubs about his future. That is the situation in which Olympiakos currently find themselves over Kostas Mitroglou."If he continues at this pace, it will be very difficult to keep him at the end of the year," coach Michel admitted to NOVA TV this week.This season, changes in the player's own attitude as well as the conditions around him at his club have brought Mitroglou into the form of his career. "He has improved his physical conditioning and his reading of the game." his coach told Spanish radio. The Borussia Monchengladbach youth product has been allowed to flourish under Michel's new regime at Pireaus.Rafik Djebbour and last year's player of the year Djamel Abdoun have departed meaning coach Michel has finally got around to creating his own side with Mitroglou as the spearhead. "We did not get another player in his place because we were confident that he [Mitroglou] would justifiy our choice," said sporting director Pierre Issa over the decision not to replace Djebbour. "He has vindicated himself and his talent."The likes of Vladimir Weiss, Joel Campbell and, crucially, Javier Saviola, have helped to give Olympiakos a new dynamism and threat going forward with the ideas of the Spanish coach now coming across. "We understand the philosophy of the coach," Mitroglou told Uefa in October. "With new players who came in the summer we play more attacking football. This is I believe our strength."No doubt, Mitroglou himself is an improved player this season. "Before, his goals came almost entirely from inside the box but now come in other ways," his coach said. "He is a player who, at any time, is dangerous to the opposition whereever he is on the pitch."Olympiakos remain steadfast in their insistence that Mitroglou will not be sold this January regardless of their fate in the Champions League. The truth of the matter though is that Mitroglou is not being paid a king's ransom at Olympiakos, that is the financial reality in Greek football. He earns about €600k per season and is contracted to the club until the summer of 2016 after signing a new contract at the start of the year. For the time being, the Greek champions are not too concerned about an €8 million release clause.Olympiakos are grateful for the goals of Mitroglou but now are more or less resigned to the fact that he will be spirited away from Pireaus next summer. "I hope he has the opportunity in the future to play in Spain or Italy and I am sure he has the potential to succeed and make a mark," says Saviola.Until that time comes, expect plenty more goals and that signature Pistolero celebration as Olympiakos set about qualifying for the Champions League knockouts.