By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Addressing the fans of AS Monaco and overall reactions to him kissing the logo of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet on the floor of Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Sasa Obradovic went into detail on his action, his history with the Belgrade giant, and commitment to La Roca Team.
“I feel responsible to say something about my gesture before the game against Red Star. To let people understand my position,” he started unfolding the explanation of the pregame situation in a video shared by Monaco, “Everybody here has to know that I am fully dedicated to Monaco.”
His side was on the receiving end of a blowout in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 19 contest held in Belgrade last Thursday. The W-L tally dropping to 12-7 was the immediate consequence of the loss.
“Growing up as a kid, I was a Red Star fan. My family and everyone I knew was a Red fan,” the Serbian tactician recalled his youth and went on recounting his professional experience from player to coach at Crvena Zvezda, “I put a big mark on the club’s history. When I left the club, I was abandoned. Actually, even in the street, nobody really talked to me that much.”
Obradovic, 53, parted ways with Crvena Zvezda midway through the 2020-21 season, six months after taking over head coaching responsibilities. Coming in as a club legend, a status earned in his playing days, he was sent packing after a slow start in the EuroLeague Regular Season.
“They wanted to destroy me as a person and as a coach too,” added Obradovic, “I was really sad about what was happening.”
“Coming to the game, there was something spontaneous from the supporters,” he described the atmosphere leading to his decision, “I was crying. It was very emotional. And I thought I should do something in appreciation. Everybody was really emotional.”
No explanation needed pic.twitter.com/OIgq7I64PO
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“That’s what I did. But everybody can understand me completely. Because I am here. I would do everything like always, to show my high dedication and professionalism, and to do my job on the best level. I hope everybody will understand or at least become easier to understand my behavior before the game,” he concluded.