Bartzokas: “Anything important in sports requires a process that is difficult to accept”

Statements ahead of Olympiakos’ home match against Villerban (12/11, 21:00) for the 9th matchday of the Euroleague, made by George Bartzokas.

The coach of the “red and white” insisted on the need for his team not to have any gaps in their games, he made it clear that all his players are capable of wearing the Olympiakos shirt, while adding that it is completely wrong for anyone to think that an easy win over Villerban will come because they have had three consecutive positive results.

In detail what the coach of Olympiakos said:



On the rotation, roster depth and how the team is doing so well in November: “The team is playing very well in the last 10 days, before we were not playing so well. At least not on both sides of the floor. I think that anything important is going to be done in sports, it requires a process which is often difficult to accept, it has moments of judgment and criticism for all of us. But that’s the way it is, it takes work on a spiritual and psychological level and everything. I think we need to stabilize the way we play as much as possible. In as many games as possible, but also within the game itself, let’s not have empty spaces. That’s the point. Having more players this is more possible to do, for example some players who had an important role in the game against Panathinaikos on Friday, yesterday played little or not at all and at the same time our team put on a good performance and beat an opponent we respect. It’s not easy to do, but if it’s done it drives the team’s ceiling higher. That’s what we’re trying to do, because we have more players, who we believe are all capable of wearing the team’s shirt and chasing the goals that are fatally very high”.

For the Villeurbanne game: “Difficult game against Villeurbanne and I’m not saying that about the guys. He has shown in the Euroleague that he has athleticism, he has experience, he has good players and that is why he has made good results or made it difficult for opponents. It is a mistake to think that because Olympiacos won the previous three matches against Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Panathinaikos, that this will be easy. This approach is completely wrong, I say it for the whole atmosphere that exists outside the team as well as inside. We saw videos of what Villeurbanne is doing. When he wins in the Euroleague, the two points are the same whether he beats Real Madrid in Madrid or Panathinaikos in the OAKA, like beating Villeurbanne in the SEF”.

To manage emotions within the team: “It is not easy to manage emotions because the players are also very influenced by what is written on social media and their environment. It’s not easy for us either, that’s why we’re here. Those of us who have been chosen to be at Olympiakos, whether coaches or players, are here because we are less affected”.