Sfairopoulos: "We need to be tough and competitive"
The Olympiacos coach, Giannis Sfairopoulos, invited the fans to come to the gym tomorrow (20/10, 20.00 CET) and support the team against Malaga.
"We are practically playing our first home game, although it is typically the second one. The first game was plaid in Heraklion due to a punishment of our home court, in a gym that helped us a lot. Now, that we are going to be playing in our natural home court, we hope to have the same help and support and win", the 'reds' coach said.
Highlighting the Spanish team, he pointed out : "Malaga is a tough team, that plays aggressively on both ends of the floor. They have a deep roster and players that share minutes, which gives them energy throughout. They have players in star roles, but the most important thing is to face them as a team. We need to be very focused. They are a dangerous and good team. So, we need to have concentration, stick by our plan and try to 'mess' with our opponent's game. We also need to find their offensive weaknesses and exploit on them. Malaga plays that way… With aggressive defense and a lot of contact. I said that before, they are tough. Against Fener, when the difference was at two digits they pressed even harder at defense. We are expecting something similar. We need to be equally strong and tough and competitive".
The many injuries is something that Giannis Sfairopoulos does not wish to talk about a lot and he explained why: "Last year and the year before we had a lot of injuries. You know very well that I will not dwell on that. I don't do this, no matter how important the injured players are. The team gets to fight on the court with those that are available… Will that be only five people? Then we will play with five people for forty minutes and try to win. This is Olympiacos and that's what we stand for. Fighting against injuries, officiating, empty stands… We bleed, we fight, we have the players that dive for every ball. That's the Olympiacos character and that's what I've been building since the first day I got here. It's a mistake to keep going over and over the same issue. Injuries happen when players get hurt, they are not a result of bad practicing or anything else that was done wrong. The most important thing is to remain focused on our goal. I adjust the team and change position to players to cover for the voids. I don't complain, nor blame luck, or look for excuses. We play with those available to win every game. That's what we'll be doing to the end".
Up to now the captain is certain not to play against the Spanish team… "It is certain that Spanoulis and Tillie will not be playing. Strelnieks will not practice tonight either. We'll see tomorrow if he's able to play. Papanikolaou and Mantzaris will be trying to practice with contacts tonight. We'll know tomorrow if they are going to be playing".
On whether he will be signing a player to cover for Kim Tillie: "We are talking about it. There is rush. Although the game is not of essence with a game to play ahead of us. We need to stay focused on the game. This is the reason we are not rushing. We are investigating the market without haste. We are not going to make a panic based decision. It's not that we don't have the players to cover for the void, it's that the season is very long and the more people your have, the better. If we are to get a player, we are going to be getting a quality one and not just any one player. Of course injuries don't allow for good practice sessions, however, mental readiness is the most important factor. We have players that can function at the required levels. It's important that the players we have know and understand the philosophy and what they need to be doing. Our way of working allows us the possibility to hope that we are going to play a good game".
Asked about Vasilis Toliopoulos, he said: "He can focus more. He's doing good, however, this may mean something, or nothing. The thing is for him to last long into the season and he will be getting opportunities to play. That's why we kept him. He has worked on his body, he has had the talent and is now ready to play at the highest level. He needs to remain humble and keep working. He has a lot of room for improvement. He doesn't do everything perfect. He's a player I've known from a very young age. I know him and he knows me. His time is here, so long his brains remain inside his head. Should they spill, he's lost".
"We don't under neither over estimate anyone"
The international forward, Ioannis Papapetrou, stated: "We need to be very careful from the beginning of the game. Malaga plays very hard, especially in the defense. We must not allow them to come into our gym and impose their dynamics. Anyway, we are a team that uses bodies and plays hard in defense. We need to impose our rules from the start so that they know they came to play against a team that is tougher than they are".
Asked whether absences have an impact on the team's game, he said: "It's only normal when you look around and you only see ten people practicing, it will get to you, but from that point on, everybody that will be playing will be fighting and give 100% to win".
As for the victory of Malaga against the European Champion Fenerbahce for the Euroleague premiere, he said it's something that doesn't concern him and his team mates: "We don't underestimate, but we neither over estimate anyone. Malaga is a good team, they have a lot of good players and a very full roster. They won a big game, but this is a totally different one. We play in our home court and we are looking any opponent in the eye".
"We should play tough"
Toughness will be the key to the game according to Jamel McLean. "We need to play tough. We saw a video of the game Malaga played against Fenerbahce. We know how strong a team they are. We need to react and play tough". When he was asked to comment on the absences, he said: "We have a good staff that works for the injured players. We are blessed to have a deep roster and we can overcome problems and play tough".