Sfairopoulos: “Obrandovic is the best of all time – E. Astera’s goals are higher in the Euroleague”

Satisfied with the titles in Adriatic League and serbian league but also determined for a better course in the new season with him Red Star in Euroleague stated the Yannis Sfeiropoulos on EOK Web Radio. At the same time he referred to 8-0 on him Zeljko Obradovic labeling the Serbian coach the greatest of all time. He spoke in detail:

For this year’s Red Star: “It was a difficult year, where we had a lot of injuries, which were injuries from knocks, from accidents. The worst thing was that throughout the year we never had a complete roster, I never had all the players at my disposal. I was always forced to use a roster that was mostly self-made because I had no choice. In the finals in Serbia we had ten players, we couldn’t even complete twelve. We didn’t do well in the Euroleague, we didn’t like how we finished. From there, the team devoted themselves to the next titles. We had won the Cup in February at a neutral venue, which was important. However, I think that the title of the Adriatic League, the way it came, with 3-0, was the culmination of all the efforts of all the people in the team, primarily the players. In the Serbian league, we didn’t like how we finished, we wanted to finish on the field, but you can’t always control that. The year ends on a positive note, but with great empathy that we must be much better in the Euroleague next year.”

For the Erythros Asteras-Partizan derby in relation to Olympiacos-Panathinaikos: “It’s more or less the same. Both Balkan countries, warm-blooded climate. We have experienced them in Greece in the past, I experienced this too. It was not something new to me, nor a new experience, because I have experienced it before. And in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv-Hapoel Jerusalem, the rivalry is the same, there is a great rivalry between the fans, it’s just that while I was there, there was no stoppage of a match and a team winning on paper and judging this title as well”.

For the 8 consecutive wins against Zeljko Obradovic: “I don’t look at the numbers. Zeljko for me is the best coach of all time, because he has proven it with the titles he won and with different teams, which is not easy to achieve if you are not the best. I don’t want to belittle other coaches, but based on results he is considered one of the best. In the fact that we won Partizan, for me it matters more that the team coped with the difficulties of such games to a great extent, in four different competitions. Every match is special, every match needs a special approach, all these games are derbies and for me the most important thing is that the team wins. I don’t care what is written and what is said.”

For the Adriatic League: “People live this league, the field was more full in the Adriatic League than in the Serbian league, without wanting to underestimate it. The league is very competitive, you can lose to anyone if you don’t play well, at any venue, even your own. The biggest difference I found is that playing there you change countries to go play, cross borders, go through customs, just like in the Euroleague. It is a championship that takes place in many countries. You don’t realize this unless you experience it. Traveling is in the same format as the Euroleague, you have a plane, passport control, you enter and exit the country. It also has the disadvantage that you lose rest time for the race. The time of these trips burdens the team for the whole year.”

For next season: “We had some meetings to start the preparation, to talk about the training center, about the tournaments, what obligations we have, the Super Cup and all that. In terms of transfers, many names have been heard, but nothing has been done yet. There are players who are still playing and we respect that. When they are done with their competitive duties we will talk to them. Of course we have higher goals for the Euroleague, we want to create a stronger team than last year to be as competitive as possible and see the play-offs. It is an effort that we all want to make, starting with the president, the administration and the Board of Directors. and all of us here who will try to create a much more competitive team than last year”.

On the love for his person due to the fact that he was also a coach at Olympiakos: “I realized this love from the first moment, because all Erythros fans knew who I was from my career at Olympiakos. Certainly, even after winning the three titles, this love is even greater and in a wider range of Red Star fans. I experience it every day, when you walk down the street and so many people come to congratulate you and show you their love. I think that for my part I also did everything I could for the best of the team, which I will always do and I will always show my love for them.”

For basketball interest in Serbia: “Serbia is traditionally a basketball country, since the “birth” of basketball in Europe it has been a protagonist. We knew that, but now that I’m experiencing it, it’s very typical that they live for basketball, a lot of people watch basketball and, in fact, a lot of female population. There is the rivalry between the two big teams, but there are also other teams that are trying to create the conditions to do something good in the country’s basketball. Rivalry is nice, as long as it’s within a sporting context.”

For the calendar: “I have said it before, the single calendar must exist and include pan-European matches, matches for the local championships, but also for the national teams. Also, to include a certain period of time in which the players will rest completely. This will be good for the sport, there will be less injuries and the players will perform better, they will not be overworked year after year with so many obligations.”