Bartzokas: “We had some individual meetings with the players”

Physically and spiritually “empty” is the Olympicafter participating in the Final Four of the Euroleague and losing in the final to Real Madrid, as stated by George Bartzokas after winning (97-77) on it PAOK.

The coach of the “red and white” spoke about the disappointment prevailing in the Piraeus team, he spoke for emotional shockwhile he revealed that they have already been done individual meetings with the players.

“Obviously for us the return to domestic competitive duties in time was three days after the Final Four, which regardless of how it was completed creates a mental and physical drain. In addition, we have several players who have health issues, big or small. That’s why I especially appreciate the fact that we easily beat PAOK here. I appreciate it because PAOK is a good team, they proved it in the first half of the first semi-final. This victory was particularly significant for the manner in which it was achieved. On Sunday we play the third game and we want to win with the aim of playing the fourth final this year in the competitions we have taken part in. We will focus on doing our best, focus and get back to a good level if we can make it and go through to the final“, initially stated George Bartzokas at the press conference.

On how his players showed reserves of energy as they pressed the defense even at +20: “I have a different opinion. I didn’t see any pressure on the ball. I saw many players have energy problem, tension in their game. Players we are used to playing at another level this year on defense».

On how he managed the lost final and how he prepared the team in a few 24 hours for its return to its obligations in the Basket League: “We had some individual meetings with the players. Everyone individually, based on their temperament, how they grew up and their experiences in sports, deals differently with this emotional shock that we suffered. Some need more support and others less. But everyone is terribly upset. All of us, across the organization are upset. I feel like we got hit by a train. Under this light, today’s game helped us a lot, so that we can get back into our competitive duties and go to our new goal. Such is life, such is sport. You have to get up when you’ve fallen. We’re down at the moment, but I think all year long we’ve been a team that’s largely been winning in whatever competition we’ve played in and will continue to do so until the end».

On whether he considers losing the trophy to Real a failure: “You all see the last game as judged. We had control of it and basically lost by a buzzer beater. Ten things happened defensively and offensively on both sides of the field, all of which were against. If it hadn’t happened, we would have won. It’s not a match or a Final Four. In order to get to play three days before the final with Real, we have been together for ten months, we have made trips, disappointments, injuries, illnesses, sorrows, joys… We have been through a lot together emotionally and the culmination of this phase is the Final Four that we managed to go for the second year in a row and the second year we lost by buzzer beater. Anyone who has participated in such a sporting event, of such importance, understands that it is particularly heavy and particularly difficult to manage afterwards. But, as I said before, life corrects everything… Failure or success… It depends on how each one will analyze it. I look forward to reviewing our year when it’s over. If you ask me how I feel. I feel sad. If it was a success I wouldn’t feel upset. Success for us where we have reached would be to win the Euroleague».

On whether he considers the system of conducting the Final Four “unfair”: “Now that we have lost we could say many things. I like to take things for granted. We were there all year, we had our chance to win, I think we managed everything well during the year. We finished first, we had the best plus-minus… I feel that in Europe there is a lot of recognition for the basketball we played and let’s not forget that we have a budget that is not even in the top eight. Let’s see which teams were left out of the 8th group. The Final Four is what it is. The first to win it, and we said the same thing when we won it in London, always leaves happy and the other three teams are almost in crisis. So is. Because all the teams that go there have big ambitions. See how Barcelona are now, having lost in the semi-final. It has turned into a crisis. Monaco is in crisis. We’re not like that. We all think we overdid ourselves. But we are certainly saddened. So the one who has won leaves happy and the other three who have had a very good year to get there, often leave with a lot of doubt from the coaches and the players. I’m not saying this about us, but in my experience this happens».