Bartzokas: "It was a very serious defensive game"

Giorgos Bartzokas was absolutely satisfied following the broad victory over Villeurbanne.

“Obviously, we are all satisfied, because we won together. It was a very serious defensive performance in all forty minutes of the game. If we say that our initial target had been to defend really well on Jones and Okobo, we succeeded in that. We stopped facilitation from players that are also able to score and push Villeurbanne to taking the score higher. We have to admit of course, that it’s not only a matter of your performance but also of the state your opponent is in. Sometimes they are tired, others not. We haven’t had to travel during this double game week. It’s a victory we appreciate and had really wanted. We continue with Monday’s game against Aris”.  

When asked to comment on the European invincible home record of his team, he said: “It’s a fact, just like it’s a fact that we had lost the first five road games and it had become a huge issue that Olympiacos is not winning away from home. It’s proven that all these are non-sensical, given the fact that we lost at home to Panathinaikos for the Greek League. I think that each team is only naturally thinking that they have to win each game either at home or away. We believe we can compete for the win anywhere. The fact that the fans have returned at courts boosts us, helps us. But this maybe a result of the schedule or circumstance. In general, we prove to have potential as a team and this cannot be random, given the chance to have tested this supposition in almost a whole round of games. I repeat that we have to remember that home courts and gyms don’t bring successes and don’t win titles”.

Villeurbanne’s coach, D.J. Parker commented: “I don’t have to say a lot. Olympiacos played an incredible game. The intensity from everyone on the floor was amazing. Congratulations to everyone”.