Bartzokas: «We need encouragement and support from our fans»
Olympiacos is determined for a restart in tomorrow’s home game vs Partizan (19/10, 20.15 CET).
“No win or loss are the end of the world”, Giorgos Bartzokas initially said, before adding: “Everyone gets to lose in the Euroleague and they are going to lose many times. We have a difficult schedule and as I had said a few days ago, we must survive the predicament we are facing, which is the result of not having enough time to practice. We haven’t even practiced once with our full roster. These days, with games on Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, it’s impossible for the team to practice. In addition to that, we have many players with injury problems. We are going to do the best we can and get as many wins as possible during that time. I have lots of faith in our team. We are a good team and every fan must understand that our team’s philosophy has always been to focus on the next game, regardless of having won or lost the previous one. Big goals like the Final Four are a joke when talked in terms of the Euroleague, by any team. When we are healthy and all together, we are going to be playing very good basketball”.
The positive news for the Olympiacos’ coach is the return of Nigel Williams-Goss. “Goss will play. He finished his individual practice session yesterday, but we decided not to have him play in Milan to give him a couple more days to recuperate. So, he will be playing, and this is very important, because we were short of guards last night, especially following Canaan’s ejection. Of course, he’s returning without not one team practice. Sikma also played without not even one five on five practice”.
He then talked about the ‘red & white’ fans, stressing that: “It’s a difficult period. We want encouragement and support from our fans. We have succeeded a lot all these years and we are going to do even more. In some difficult times within the season, it’s only important that we are all together. They should not worry or doubt our potential”.
Finally, about the Serbian team, he said: “Partizan is a team that plays with high intensity, mainly at home and of course thanks to their fans. They are a team with strong and weak points. No team is at its peak condition. You see that even executing plays on both ends of the court is lagging. The same goes for us. Unfortunately, no team has had the chance to have a normal pre-season, due to the Mundobasket. Partizan is in the same position. They are a team that has its coach’s brand. They have been managing their situation. They lost at home to Barcelona yesterday and they are coming here to play more determined tomorrow. But I believe we are going to do the same”.