Sfairopoulos: «A tough game»
Olympiacos visits with Red Star on Wednesday (22/3, 19:00 CET), for the 27th day of the Euroleague Regular Season. Giannis Sfairopoulos and Giannis Athinaiou talked about the game against the Serbian team.
At first, the Olympiacos’ coach, Giannis Sfairopoulos, who celebrates his birthday today, was asked whether he wishes the victory over Red Star as a present and answered that «I want two presents, tomorrow and on Friday, against Real Madrid ».
Next, he talked about the Serbian team «Red Star is a very good team, especially at home. They have upped tempo in the last months, they have seven wins in the last eight games they have played in their home court, they have beat Real, Fener, CSKA, they have won big games at home, so we have a very tough mission ahead of us. We have to be really focused, stay in the game, try to play our style. Each game is crucial, we now have a chance at home court advantage, however, we look at every game totally separately. We don’t want to be thinking about what happens should we win or lose for that matter. We don’t have that kind of optic. We only focus on how to prepare for games and how to play the best we can. The result will be decided by our performance on the floor and that of the opponent’s. No, there is no anxiety, when you have a job to do, there is pressure for every game and every result when you are with Olympiacos. Olympiacos wants to win wherevery we play. This game is no different compared to previous ones as far as pressure is concerned. We want to follow our game plan».
Asked whether the defeat to Galata was a lesson in responsibility for him and his players, the 50year old coach answered that «I don’t see it that way. Our opponent was not really in the game up to 25, we somehow lost rhythm after that point and that’s how it happened. I think it was a matter of tempo. I don’t think it was lack of responsible play. For sure, it was a lesson, we should have been more focused for a longer period in the game. The same goes now, in front of a great audience, a game between two teams that have a very good relationship. We’ll see if Jovic will be playing, they are dealing with injuries too. Kuzmic is a big body in the post and he can make trouble for anyone, should we not play him the right way. But it’s not just these two players. Red Star is team that plays like one, we have to deal them as a unity because all their players are dangerous».
Asked about Spanoulis and Lojeski, the Greek coach pointed out that «both Spanoulis and Lojeski are doubtful for the game, that’s why we are traveling with 14 players. We still don’t know if either or both of them will be playing at this moment».
On his part, Giannis Athinaiou stressed that «I don’t think that either team will be influenced by the atmosphere, we are all too experienced for that. We want to impose our tempo from the beginning. We know that Red Star is a team that plays very hard at home, they want to impose the rhythm through their defense. That’s why we need to match up that energy and win».
Asked on whether home - court advantage brings extra pressure to him and his team mates, the 27 year old guard was clear «There is no pressure, there is no extra pressure due to home court advantage. We want to be winning every game that has been our motto throughout the year, that’s what we want to do tomorrow as well. It doesn’t make us nervous, we just want to give our best in the four remaining games and whenever home court advantage is secured, we are going to be happy».