Bartzokas: «I thank the Presidents, the fans, the players, the staff»
Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas dedicated the championship title to everyone in the organization, highlighting the collective effort behind the club’s success in its centennial year.
He stated the following in detail:
"This difficult season has come to an end, thankfully, with a happy conclusion. I did my best throughout the year to support our effort, our team, our players, and everyone involved. Now it was their turn to speak on the court and win the trophy. I want to be brief and simply express a huge thank you to the club presidents, the Olympiacos fans, the players, and everyone who worked to bring this title home."
Asked about the absence of key players at crucial points in the season and whether this is the most significant title he's won with the team after the EuroLeague, he responded: "Last year, we lost Fall and were left with just one big man. This year, unfortunately, we lost Williams-Goss, Vildoza got injured during the finals, Fall suffered a serious injury, Fournier was ejected in the previous game, and today Vezenkov couldn’t play. Our team character is what brought us the trophy. We beat Panathinaikos three times in a row; against such a strong team, we showed our superiority and proved that we truly deserved this championship."
On the contrast between criticism on social media and the support inside the arena: "I've always stood for unity within the club. My goal, even if it came with collateral damage, was always to keep the team united. In basketball, everyone plays together, everyone contributes; if there’s one weak link, one person causing division, then that person shouldn’t be part of the team. I honestly wondered if I was the one disrupting that unity. I considered that maybe I shouldn't continue with Olympiacos. If I’m the reason unity is lost, I should step away. The fans reacted the way they did. What matters most to me is that Olympiacos keeps winning titles. We are all just passing through; we are soldiers. What remains is the ownership of this club, standing tall in a world where common sense is constantly under attack. I’m happy for them.”