On the eve of Game 5 between Panathinaikos and Anadolu Efes, Ergin Ataman spoke for the first time after the events in Istanbul.
‘Tough match, but we believe in us’
“It will be a difficult match, as it always has been. Efes has experience and combativeness. We will have to play calmly, be aggressive in defence and impose our game in attack.”
‘Every possession and the energy of the crowd will count’
‘Both teams have great offensive potential,’ he added, “but the key will be the fight on every ball. We will have to be aggressive in every action, without looking at the score. The victory will come by itself, if we are consistent with our game plan. The public’s support will be crucial: we don’t need a show, we need real energy, like a sixth man on the court”.
‘Respect for Efes despite everything’
The coach then addressed the incident in Game 4, in which the Efes fans had challenged him: “Nothing can erase the memories or the respect I have for the Efes organisation. I have friends, family, the president… It’s part of life. I hope our fans will support us tomorrow without insults: the opponent deserves respect’.
‘Better at home than away’
“It is better to play this decisive Game 5 at home, rather than away. Whether it will really be an advantage, we will see on the court.”
Confirmed roster
Ataman confirmed that the roster will remain unchanged: “Matias (Lessort)? He hasn’t trained for four months. We will have the same team’.
Post your comment
Visualizza commenti