THE George Bartzokas stated that he will not allow any member of his team to feel like a failure if o Olympic not win the title in the most competitive Euroleague of all time.
“For us, the goal is to be at the highest level and we proved it for the second season in a row. I can’t allow anyone in my team to feel like we’ve failed or disappointed if we don’t win the trophy. I know well how strong the competition is, with the best players and coaches. We have played finals since the beginning of October until now. I think it’s three different events, the regular season, the playoffs and the Final 4. We have to enjoy our participation here, give everything and if we do that in the end we’ll be happy. In this competition, you cannot say that the only successful team is the team that will take the title. There are successful teams that did not qualify for the Final 4. We will however do our best to win the title“, he emphasized.
As for the differences with 2013, when in his first season he led Olympiacos to the title in London, he said:2013 was a completely different situation. Then, in 2012, he had won the Euroleague and we did the back-to-back. It was not easy at all, especially for me who was a rookie. But we had a very good team from last season and the boys had a lot of confidence. We had legendary players like Spanoulis and Printezis, but above all we were a team. That’s what I want too, team effort, unselfish thinking and that’s what we want to show in this Final 4».
Regarding Sasha Vezenkov’s MVP award he said: “I’m pleased with the way we played all season and Sasha found a way to be so important. And not playing for his numbers, but in a way that helped the whole team. I am very happy for Sasha and the team, because Olympiacos had the same honor in the past. Sasha is an amazing kid and works hard and Olympiacos gives players the opportunity to have such accolades».
As for what he advises his players, he replied: “What I tell my players is to have the same routine as the whole season. In training, in nutrition, in rest, in everything… Of course it is an important fight, but nothing should change in their daily life».
Speaking to Nova a little later, he was asked about his… sleep and whether it has been disturbed in recent days. “I sleep pretty well. Maybe a bit in the series with Fener I had lost a little sleep. I don’t feel an extra pressure or that we will be bent by it. The team is focused“, he replied.
As for whether he considers himself a mentor to Vezenkov, he clarified: “I am not a mentor. The whole team has helped Sasha with the way he plays. I like the way he plays, and the way he thinks about basketball matches mine. His father is a mentor… He is a very smart kid. He speaks so many languages, it’s rare to find a kid with such an open mind outside of basketball».
Source: Sport Fm
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