Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 13 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.
Pregame quotes hub: 'Everyone knows what Olympiacos means to me'
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8 Min lectura
Wednesday, December 4
AS Monaco vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:00 CET)
Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco head coach
"We still have a lot of room for improvement, but the guys are making a big effort to play together. Our team's identity is to share the ball. We haven't had much time to train with the matches, so I have a lot of things to say to the players, but we have to be intelligent. Olympiacos? Everyone knows what Olympiacos means to me, the incredible memories, the love of the fans, it's a special connection for me. Now in this game, it's our opponent. Olympiacos is one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, they're solid and they share the ball very well."
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach
"We must have consistency in our game for 40 minutes. Monaco is a team that plays very well on offense and has very good ball handlers in their roster. They also move the ball well. For us, it’s important to stick to our game plan and to match their energy and athleticism."
Moustapha Fall, Olympiacos Piraeus center
"It is going to be a tough game. We know that. There is no easy game in the EuroLeague. [Vassilis] Spanoulis is a good coach, but it’s been only a few days since he took over Monaco. He will need some time to pass his philosophy to the team. Monaco is a very good team. I predict that tomorrow’s game will be something like a dogfight. We must play hard on defense and protect the ball."
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:30 CET)
Ettore Messina, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan head coach
"We face a very deep and well-organized team during a time of huge stress, both physical and mental. In order to win, we will have to put on the court the best defense we can possibly play, especially against their pick-and-roll plays, and have a solid help by everybody, particularly in terms of attention to small and crucial detail."
Zach LeDay, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan forward
"Our daily goal has to be improving and raise the level of our game, try to have an impact regardless of situations and in my case of the position I play at, no matter next to which player. This is what I ask myself and what I try to share with my teammates in a very long and demanding competition that you build game by game."
Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach
"First game of the double round. We are playing against a very talented team, a team that scores points in different ways. They have the second-best offense in the league, so it is obvious that we have to be very focused on defense and make their offense less organized. Our offense also has to be very smart, to attack in the right ways in relation to what the defense gives us. They are in a great moment, even though they lost in the domestic league. They have good results now and we have to be very focused during the whole 40 minutes."
Yago dos Santos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade guard
"We are in a good moment before this game. We know it will be a tough game, because we are playing away, they play good basketball, I think we are getting better and I believe in winning in the double round."
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. ALBA Berlin (20:45 CET)
Luca Banchi, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach
"ALBA Berlin will arrive in Bologna strong with the recovery of important players like [Matt] Thomas and [Martin] Hermannsson, in addition to the recent signing of [David] McCormack, who will help make their collective basketball even more effective. We will face this challenge with humility and determination to be able to control the pace and make the most of the opportunity to return to play at Virtus Segafredo Arena, where our energy and the emotional boost of our fans will be decisive."
Momo Diouf, Virtus Segafredo Bologna center
"Against ALBA Berlin, a tough game awaits us in our home, Virtus Segafredo Arena. We will have to stay united and match their energy. We need to win this victory to get out of this spell."
Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach
"Virtus is an intense team with a lot of individual class. With [Will] Clyburn and [Toko] Shengelia, they not only have a lot of power inside, but also a lot of experience. Virtus also has their fans behind them, which can give them an extra boost in the current situation."
Tim Schneider, ALBA Berlin forward
"This is a very important week for us. Of course, we've already thought of the cup game in Bamberg on Sunday, but now we've got two tough EuroLeague games coming up, which are just as important for us. Above all, we have to regain our confidence and our rhythm. That's the key to being successful this week."
Tuesday, December 3
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. FC Bayern Munich (18:30 CET)
Tomislav Mijatovic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach
"We are very excited to be back at home for the new EuroLeague challenge. With the help of our fans and the great atmosphere, we are looking to fight together against one very dangerous EuroLeague opponent who’s playing in a very high offensive tempo throughout this EuroLeague season so far. They are a team that is very well coached, having a great offensive balance and we know that we have to bring our great performance on both ends of the floor plus fight for every possession in order to reach our goal which is to win the game."
Ercan Osmani, Anadolu Efes Istanbul forward
"Unfortunately, we could not get the results we wanted in the last two weeks of the EuroLeague. Now, we want to start a new winning streak according to our goals and be at a higher spot in the standings, where we should be. Bayern Munich is a team that has been playing good basketball and has been at the top of the standings with remarkable results this season. That's why we need to be very careful. I think we will win this game by showing our team spirit and never giving up the fight for 40 minutes."
Gordie Herbert, FC Bayern Munich head coach
"This is not an easy time with many games; in the last two games, we haven’t played good basketball. We know how much talent there is in Efes’s team. But we ourselves have to overcome all adversities now, look ahead, and not feel sorry for ourselves. In Istanbul, we need to get back to controlling the tempo of the game through our offense and rebounding."
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Real Madrid (20:00 CET)
Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach
"Tomorrow we have to be prepared, play with energy and not slow down at any time. We have to maintain a high level during the 40 minutes because that is the demand that this competition has. ASVEL is a physical team that plays very well at home. They have well-known players with a lot of talent like [Nando] De Colo, [Theo] Maledon, [Paris] Lee... some of them with a lot of EuroLeague experience. [Joffrey] Lauvergne is an inside player capable of doing many things, playing inside-outside, one-on-one with face-up, with his back turned... We have to be very focused the whole game and match that physical level that ASVEL is going to put on the court."
Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid guard
"The team is doing well, but we need to play much better if we want to win away from home. LDLC Arena is a difficult court, but we are prepared and we head into tomorrow's game with a lot of enthusiasm. ASVEL is a physical, talented team with a lot of strong points, especially at home. I think that if we are good on defense, we will have opportunities on offense to score fluently. Tomorrow we must pay special attention to defense and our defensive rebounding because if we do a good job in these two aspects of the game, on offense we have enough talent to win."
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Paris Basketball (20:05 CET)
Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach
"We prepared for them and watched their film, they play a different style of basketball and play well. It's refreshing to see a very distinct style instilled by a coach. It's even inspiring to a degree. We're expecting a challenging game."
Levi Randolph, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv forward
"I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow, it's another big game for us. They're a really good team. I've played a lot of their players in the past in the BCL championship [game] a few years ago, so it's a big thing for them. They did a great job in being able to further their careers, that's big time. Looking forward to stepping on the court against them tomorrow. We've been watching film on them and they look very similar [to that Bonn team in the BCL championship game]. They play fast, a lot of confidence, up-tempo. TJ Shorts runs the show, but he's got a lot of great pieces around him. A lot of similarities from the team I played against a few years ago, so like I said, I'm looking forward to getting onto the court against them tomorrow."
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. FC Barcelona (20:15 CET)
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach
"Yes, [Kendrick Nunn is available]. He took part in practice today, he always had some health problem but not very serious. He's a little bit weak, but he wants to take part in practice and I am sure that tomorrow he will be on the court. Maybe he will not be 100% physically, but we will deal with it.
"Kevin Punter is a great shooter, so we know that everybody needs to be careful with him. But also players like Jabari Parker, [Jan] Vesely... They are a good team. We are working on our defense, but more than defense, also offense is very important. We lost against Monaco, not because of our defensive mistakes but because of our offensive turnovers that we made, especially in the fourth quarter. We need to be smarter and have more game discipline in each period of the game.
"[Ioannis] Papapetrou didn't practice today and he won't play tomorrow, not because he's injured. I think also, in the game against Partizan, he will be out."
Cedi Osman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward
"Obviously we are struggling a little bit, but we know what we need to do and we know what kind of team we are. I wasn't here last year, but when we won the EuroLeague championship, we were winning with our defense. We know that's the most important thing for us. We will fix it. Tomorrow is a really important game for us, and it's going to be a great challenge. We're going to play against a very good team, against a team that is playing with a high pace. We'll have to run back and we'll have to be patient, offensively and defensively."
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach
"It’s great that we’ll have the opportunity to see our former player, Alen Smailagic, as well as our former coach, Andrea Trinchieri. Based on their style of play, Zalgiris is truly his kind of team. They have the ability to adapt to any opponent, and it’s no coincidence that they are the team that has conceded the fewest points so far in the EuroLeague. Every detail in their game preparation is extremely important. We must pay attention to the rhythm of the game, as well as how we play and approach it. They have a lot of quality, having signed some exceptional players, and they are where they deserve to be. Even in some games they lost, they were close to winning.
"I would like to add one more thing: We are very proud of what is happening in our arena and the number of fans we have, which is by far the largest, and by some measures, even compared to NBA teams. What I would like our fans to understand is that we have the most important goal ahead of us, which is the three-year license. In this sense, I would ask everyone to behave appropriately, not to throw any objects onto the court, such as coins or lighters. Also, no one should cross the line and enter the court, and no one should be insulted, because at the end, all of these will be factors that will affect whether Partizan will receive that three-year license. We all need to work on this – meaning the club's management, coaches, players, and fans – because we are all Partizan. It depends on all of us whether we will achieve what we most desire, which is to become permanent members of the EuroLeague. We want everyone to talk about our amazing atmosphere and for that image to spread across the world."
Balsa Koprivica, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade center
"They are a strong team and have been playing exceptionally well and consistently this season. They are multi-skilled in all positions, and we expect a very tough game. It’s crucial for us to stay focused going into this game and the double week."
Andrea Trinchieri, Zalgiris Kaunas head coach
"You know very well how specific and special it is for me to go to play Partizan in Belgrade. And if you add to the menu that now they are rolling, they are a very hot team, they won two great games playing close to perfection – offensively and defensively – plus the fans there raising the bar for any opponent to go there and try to play, you understand that it's a very, very difficult game. But, on the other hand, after the first game of the season against Baskonia, which cost us a lot, we regrouped, we're trying to understand the mistakes we did. This doesn't mean that we won't make the same mistakes again. Maybe we will have a different setup for the mistakes. At this moment, for every team in the EuroLeague going to compete, saying that we are going to compete at Partizan in Belgrade, it's a very hard job. We are no different. We need to stay very focused, we need to play very smart, very efficient. We sometimes need to be able to suffer, suffer the pressure, suffer that things won't be smooth, resist, sometimes hold our breath underwater for more than two minutes, which is not for everybody, and then stay in the game physically and mentally. Then at the end of the 40 minutes, look at the scoreboard knowing we did whatever we could in order to compete.
"I'm already seeing how [Partizan's] team is developing, how the team is blooming. I have a feeling that they can be one of the four teams at the Final Four. Seeing all the ups and downs of many teams... oof."
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CET)
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach
"Baskonia is coming off a big win in Kaunas, coming back from 17 points. They are obviously a very dangerous team at home. A lot of offensive talent with the players like [Chima] Moneke and [Markus] Howard, with the great shooting of [Nikos] Rogkavopoulos. So it is very difficult to guard them. We have to be very careful about their athleticism on the front line and their ability of the offensive rebounding."
Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward
"We are heading into another double-week game in the EuroLeague. In our last game, we couldn't display the performance we wanted and ended up with a poor result. We want to make up for that. However, we know that Baskonia is a team coached by a good coach, with talented players. They are effective in rebounds and especially playing good at home. Last week, they made an important comeback in Kaunas and won the game. They create a very strong atmosphere at home, and to win in such an environment, you need to play well for 40 minutes. We will try to do that."
