Bartzokas: «It's very important that the injured players return»

Olympiakos coach Giorgos Bartzokas talked about an attendance sheet packed with absentees and focused on the importance of the players returns ahead of the playoffs, during the post-game press conference following their dominant win over Panionios.

In view of the upcoming away game against Villeurbanne, he confirmed the presence of the following in the roster: Evan Fournier, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Williams-Goss (who were unavailable today), Saben Lee, and Moses Wright.

In his initial remarks, he stated: "Today we completed the regular season with a good performance, considering the circumstances. What matters right now is for the injured players to return because we now have many players with issues, and we want to be ready in about a month when the EuroLeague playoffs begin to achieve the best result. Health is, therefore, a very important issue for us in the coming period, not only for the injured players to return but also to be in good condition to help the team. I wish Panionios good luck in the playoffs."

When asked who would travel tomorrow to Lyon (for the match against Villeurbanne on 25/03, 20:45 CET), he said: "Tomorrow, 12-13 players will board the plane, including Evan Fournier, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Williams Goss, Saben Lee, and Moses Wright."

Regarding the intensity of the game against Panionios: "I expected the game to be a nightmare; we had absences. Not for any other reason, but because we’d be told we influenced the final standings. But we had to be serious. We were serious as needed; Panionios is a better team than they showed. We started well and perhaps they got disappointed. They are a good team, which is why they have done well in the league."