Thus for Hapoel Tel Aviv: “Interest to build something from scratch”

THE Dimitris Itoudis in his first press conference as its new coach Hapoel Tel Aviv was asked to comment on several issues, such as his decision to move to Israel, the pressure of the world’s expectations, but also possible… similarities with Zeljko Obradovic.

“Thank you for being here. We had the opportunity to meet in Berlin and delve into his perspective. She matches my expectations and we can build something great. It is something familiar to me now to build a new house. It’s a process that takes time but it’s very interesting and you’re trying to build something from scratch. The team has established a status in Europe to achieve things. Thank you. I have heard a lot, I am here to learn the history of Hapoel. We all want to make an effort to meet the expectations of the world” he said initially.

For the decision to undertake the Hapoel Tel Aviv: “Where do I begin? Ever since I had the honor to meet with Ofer Yanai and he explained things to me about life he made me see things. Let me say that basketball in Europe is a sleeping giant in many areas. Basketball is the most exciting sport. People and fans think things happen in seconds. We did not stop talking with Ofer about basketball in Europe, in Israel, abroad. We put a lot on the table.

On the other hand one of my colleagues at CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce did a very good job here. He decided to stay here and basketball is all about cooperation. Everyone has to make decisions at the end of the day. Stefanos and his colleagues gave their best. We have a break for nationals and I have to meet with all the players. We buy time for what we need to get better at. Offer brought perspective and such a successful man spends so much time in basketball. His cell phone is full of messages, but at the same time he loves basketball and that gave me motivation in a sport I love”.

For the expectations and what he promises to the world: “We still haven’t talked about goals and expectations. On the 28th of the month we have a match against Ulm, in Germany, the day Bruno Campoclo will return from Brazil. We will not have a practice with the entire roster. I promise hard work, a team full of motivation and details and information about what is happening in the world of basketball.”

For the fact that players thought not to come to Israel due to the prevailing situation: “It is a reality. I don’t have all the details about it. I had a conversation with my family and with people from different situations. I was here last year as well, a guest of the team in the finals with Maccabi. I spent 3 days here. It is a reality that we have to think about the situations and this is a challenge that we have to go through. We need to show that basketball unites. We are rivals on the floor, but in general basketball brings us together. We should dig deeper into the players we have to get to know them better. As long as I’m here I’ll know”.

For whether his own situation reminds his presence his situation Zeljko Obradovic when he took over Partizan: “You are talking to me about a man I love like a brother. We spent 13 wonderful years at Panathinaikos. I don’t like to make comparisons. Zeliko listens to his instincts. Zeliko is dear to Partizan. If you want to make comparisons, we should compare the world in these two groups. How the two teams fill the stadium even when the results don’t come is because they believe the results will come. So the comparison is about the world”.