This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 25 showdown between FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens.
Post-game quotes: FC Barcelona vs. Panathinaikos OPAP Athens
FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius:
"Congratulation to our players and fans. I thought it was an important evening for us. We got a win in the EuroLeague and I think all the players got to play and we had some very important and good performances from the guys that needed this type of performance. I thought we took the game very seriously and for most part of the game, we were solid. Like I said, I am very happy with the result and very happy, especially, with the guys who this performances will give them some confidence. Panathinaikos is going through a very difficult time. It is a bit sad to see them like this. Nick [Calathes] and I talked about it before the game, we love the club a lot. It is impossible to be all these years on top. I believe that after Zeljko [Obradovic] left the team, it took a small step backwards and once Xavi [Pascual] left, it took another step backwards. Maybe it is going through a bad time, but I believe that a club with so much history, tradition and people who can't wait to go back to OAKA. I am sure it will bounce back soon and I wish them good things. It is a special clib for us, it will be like all my life, but sometimes teams go through eras like this. It is hard to see Panathinaikos like this, but I only wish them to bounce back and go back to the top of European basketball. It was a very good game for us becausewe needed this game. It was our fourth game in seven days, with not a lot of energy, and a lot of my players needed to play well, and did that tonight. They carried the game's rhythm and they go home happy and with more confidence."
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens head coach Dimitris Priftis:
"Unfortunately, we had some guys that we lost in the last possession, like the game at home against Barcelona. This is something that we want to change. We will not be without concern in the EuroLeague, we will fight for every game and try in every game. Unfortunately, we came here tonight without some players, so we have to consider also that. We have to continue and do our best. The season is long. No loss is acceptable and we don't accept any loss. Of course, we are disappointed. It is a lesson for us, for the way that Barcelona is playing and its level of physicality."
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FC Barcelona forward Nigel Hayes-Davis:
"We started really well. We didn't play perfect, we made a couple of mistakes but we wanted to come out and not give them the chance to come back in the second half. We wanted to get the third quarter, did a good job on that and it was a good team win. It's huge. Coach talked about it in film, the day before, that it was good for some guys to get their rhythm going, myself included, to get a good feel, to remember you are good at basketball, the see the ball go in, to get that confidence back, so it was a good game for us."
FC Barcelona guard Dante Exum:
"I think it has been a long week for us, we had three games and wanted to come out firing. That's what we came out and won. I think I am just going game by game, making sure I do what I do, going out there, hitting shots... as long as we are winning, that's all that matters, really."
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens guard Eleftharios Bochoridis:
"Unfortunately, we were serious only in the first 10 minutes of the game. Then FC Barcelona picked up the pace, they played more seriously and we did not follow them. In every part of the game they played harder. We had to show a better image and the absences we had are not an excuse."