Bartzokas: “The pressure on Olympiakos is always great, we are loyal to our plan with Maccabi”

Olympiacos will welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv on Friday night (27/01, 21:30), as part of the 21st matchday of the Euroleague.

With his statements at the club’s media day, Mr George Bartzokasstressed that the “red and white” should stay focused on the plan them against a good and quality team such as the Israelis.

At the same time, the Piraeus coach also referred to pressure which is always present in the group, especially now that it is in the peak of the Euroleague standings.

In detail what Giorgos Bartzokas said:

For the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv: “We will treat it with due seriousness. We are dealing with a team that we lost to in the first round. A team that plays with intensity, due to the athletic qualities it has in all positions. Of course, you need to have very good execution in your defensive and offensive game to beat them. We don’t think 2-8 shows anything. In the sense that the Euroleague has proven that all games are contestable by everyone. So, we will try to execute our plan here. We will play as seriously as possible, because as you said, the Euroleague always hides the unexpected.”

On how Olympiacos will approach the game: “Every game is different. Each player has different characteristics. We will definitely need to defend well against the two main scorers and creators they have. But I honestly can’t underestimate any player, in any position they have. They are all good players. I will insist once again, that it has nothing to do with the player who marks, but with the collective defensive function of a team. How much will you limit the game and basically the creation, because a team that does not create is difficult to go to a large number of points. It must be an amazing day for her players.”

On whether SEF plays its own role: “I cannot go into such generalizations. I will laugh at you. Let’s stick to what we’ve been saying since the beginning of the year. We have to prepare the games, regardless of whether we play inside or outside, against which opponent. Each game has particularities and of course there are data in our team as well. That is, the form, the injuries. So let’s be more conservative in our estimates. I’m talking about me. We will prepare for this game, against this opponent and if we are good we will win.”

On the pressure on Olympiakos: “Certainly the demands on the team at the moment are high. Olympiacos by its nature has difficulties in this matter, the management, because the pressure on the team is always great. People always want to win. But I think that this year, like last year, as I have estimated, the world also values ​​the effort, not only the victory. Many times when we lost he applauded me and the world of our team shows that he is attached to the way we play. With how solid we are, with how much of a team we are. So, it’s up to us to keep this. We consider it a very important weapon of ours.”

For the team to have absences: “At the moment there are two or three players who have minor issues, but we are training and they will be in the game. In other words, there is no absence”.

Follow News Bulletin 247 on Google News to be the first to learn the latest news .