Stavropoulos: “Our main goal is to return to the EuroLeague playoffs”

Olympia Milano GM Christos Stavropoulos spoke with Courtside Report ahead of the friendly game against Crvena Zvezda.

The Greek executive did not shy away when asked about the team’s goals for the 2026/27 season (via ROM).

“First of all, we have to try to repeat the great season we had in the Italian league, when we won all three trophies for the first time in the club’s history. Repeating that will be far from easy, but if we manage to do it, we will be very happy.

“Second, our first objective is to make the EuroLeague playoffs. This is our first major goal. It won’t be easy at all, considering the budgets of the other teams, but it is the team’s main objective.

“I am optimistic because this year we have a balanced roster in terms of positions. I believe we have players at every position who can contribute. We also have some new guys, players experiencing this for the first time, such as Mathews, who is playing in Europe for the first time but is already showing some very good things.”

Asked what he would change about the current EuroLeague format, Stavropoulos focused on the schedule.

“First of all, I would look to find a solution for the schedule. I believe that at the moment it is the most important problem that the teams are facing. Already the 20 teams and the round-robin system create a very demanding schedule and, once we go to 24 teams, the situation becomes even more difficult.

“There is certainly no perfect system. If we end up with two groups, my suggestion would be to determine their composition by drawing lots, as was done in the past. I believe that would be a fairer and more meritocratic solution.

“But really, the first thing I would do would be to find a solution to the schedule. We can’t keep playing all these games. It’s exhausting. Every game you play is important. You play in the domestic league and it’s an important game. You go to the EuroLeague and you know that if you lose one or two games, you can immediately find yourself behind. So you’re always under pression.

“You no longer have the space and time to really work. Coaches are essentially maintaining the team and slowly trying to add some new elements. We remember coaches doing two training sessions a day in the past. That doesn’t exist anymore.”