Hot Seat at Olympiacos: Can González Really Replace El Kaabi?

The stretcher coming onto the pitch changed the entire landscape of Olympiacos's season. Ayoub El Kaabi lay there, his hand covering his face, as doctors examined the damage after a collision with Volos goalkeeper Marios Siampanis. That moment did not just end a match; it opened up a huge question in Piraeus: who will carry the attack in the months ahead? The subsequent diagnosis was a genuine shock. A tibia and fibula fracture, requiring surgery. El Kaabi, the top scorer and the most important tactical reference point for Olympiacos, will be sidelined for several months. The Greek club loses not just a goalscorer, but an entire reference point in the final third. The fans have every reason to worry. In football, losing a main striker early in the season is never good news. But it's often in the darkest moments that doors begin to open. Olympiacos's story right now is not just about who replaces El Kaabi, but whether young Armando González — the new signing from Chivas — can seize this opportunity to explode onto the scene. González, nicknamed "La Hormiga" (The Ant), arrived at Olympiacos this summer from Chivas with the intention of competing for a starting place. He has just 1 goal in his first appearances. That is too small a sample size to draw any conclusions. But the profile of a young, quick striker who likes to run in behind — very different from El Kaabi's physical, box-dominant style — could change the way Olympiacos attacks. The tactical problem isn't just about finding a replacement name. Olympiacos's system is built around El Kaabi. The wingers and attacking midfielders are used to him receiving the ball, holding it up, and playing with his back to goal. González is younger, faster, and tends to make runs in behind the defensive line. The timing of key passes will have to change. If not, the ball will arrive in spaces where there is no one to receive it. The congested nine-day schedule ahead is the natural testing ground: Volos in the Greek Cup on September 8, OFI Crete in the league on September 12, and Jagiellonia in the Europa League on September 16. The first two are domestically winnable even without El Kaabi. The Europa League tie is the real test. Can González perform at continental intensity, given that this golden opportunity has been handed to him by circumstance? I have followed many cases of young players thrust into the eye of the storm because of an injury to a senior teammate. Some become stars; some crumble under the pressure. The most important difference is not talent, but whether the team has a clear Plan B. Rumors of a short-term deal in the January transfer window will begin to surface if González fails to adapt quickly. The transfer market never sleeps, and urgency sometimes pushes clubs to overpay for replacements. Making a hasty judgment about González right now would be a grave mistake. Mbappé once taught me a lesson: it's good to watch the speed, but it's better to watch the direction of movement. For González, the trajectory of his career is now taking a faster turn than expected. Being judged prematurely on a small sample — that is the real risk in this situation. The team's hunger for goals could turn a young striker into a scapegoat after just three goalless matches. As for El Kaabi, a tibia and fibula fracture is a severe injury with a high risk of complications. Rehabilitation will take months and could be tricky. González's registration status for the Europa League squad is also an unknown. If he is not registered, Olympiacos might face a shortage of goalscorers on the continental stage. It would be a mistake to only look at contracts and numbers. I look at the dinners before the signings, how the players talk to each other, how the coaching staff operates in the dressing room. El Kaabi was not just a veteran goal machine; he was a leader on the pitch. When such a key voice leaves, the team's psychology shakes. The question is how the coaching staff manages the pressure to win. González's story at Olympiacos extends far beyond Greece's borders. He comes from Chivas, one of Mexico's most famous youth academies. His success could open the door for more young Mexican players to join mid-tier European leagues like Greece, Belgium, or Portugal — where they would get more playing time than sitting on the bench in the top-five leagues. Mexico will be watching the "Ant's" every step in Athens. This means every González match will draw extra attention. The expectation from his homeland is a double-edged sword. It can be a huge motivation, or it can suffocate a young player. If González scores in the Europa League, the story will explode. If he draws a blank in all three matches, the backlash will be just as intense. One of the rare tactical observations I've made from watching Olympiacos: the coach's team still lacks a clear-cut second attacking option beyond crossing or feeding El Kaabi through the middle. If González is deployed as the highest striker, the system will need more through-balls in behind and over-the-shoulder passes. This is a major change in approach. The matches against Volos (cup) and OFI Crete (league) will reveal how many minutes the coaching staff gives González as his fitness is being built up. If he starts all three, it shows great faith. If he is rotated, there is still caution. The decision will say much about the coaching staff's risk appetite. Olympiacos's inner circle is under fire. Football does not forgive those who complain about circumstances. I recall stories of young players pushed to the front lines when their club is in crisis: if they survive, they become pillars; if they fail, their careers can stall for years. González is at that crossroads now. Some might argue this is a golden chance for González to prove himself. That view may be true, but it's missing an important detail: El Kaabi not only scored, he also contributed to defense, held the ball up when the team was under pressure. González will have to learn to do that in real matches, with no rehearsal time. The Greeks are known as some of the most passionate and demanding fans in football. They will not accept the excuse that a young player needs time to adapt dragging on forever. For Olympiacos, winning the domestic title is the default expectation, and the competition with PAOK, AEK Athens, and Panathinaikos is always fierce. Losing El Kaabi for months could be the difference between first and second place. The pressure isn't just on González. The coaching staff also has to carefully figure out how to use the other attacking players. Will they switch to a two-striker formation? Is there any winger who could play as a false nine? These are the kinds of stopgap solutions clubs often employ when losing a main center-forward. Looking at the financial picture, Olympiacos is one of the wealthiest clubs in Greece, but the league's broadcast revenue is modest compared to Europe's top divisions. Losing El Kaabi could affect results in the Europa League, which would directly impact prize money from UEFA — an important revenue stream. So González adapting quickly is not just a sporting matter; it's also about the budget. But I will not deliver a final verdict on González after just a few matches. Rumors that Olympiacos may look for a striker in January could emerge after these upcoming games. The club needs to keep a cool head and have a contingency plan. For González, everything comes down to his own adaptability and willpower. An empty stand does not mean no one is listening. Likewise, El Kaabi's absence does not mean no one will score. Someone has to step up. The only question is: can the little "Ant" carry a club on his back?