By Michalis Gioulenoglou / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman dropped a bombshell at the media day of the match against Virtus Bologna, one day after the home defeat to Armani Milano, which also caused boos from the stands.
After expressing his confidence in his players, he emphasized that if Panathinaikos does not win the Greek championship or the Euroleague this year, he will leave the team.
“I have great confidence in my players. I want to give them another big challenge. As you know, I have another year of a guaranteed contract. But if at the end of the season we have not won the Euroleague or the Greek championship, then I will leave Athens,” the Turkish coach said characteristically.
Ergin Ataman also mentioned Mathias Lesort, giving a small update on his return, with an asterisk.
“I hope our most important signing will be Mathias Lesort, if he can come back in 3-4 weeks, which I hope,” Ataman commented when asked about a possible addition and the name of former EuroLeague MVP Nigel Hayes-Davies, who was rumored to be a team target, despite his contract with the Phoenix Suns.
“This team, with this roster, is a candidate for the title, like many other teams. As you can see in the last 2-3 weeks, many teams that are candidates and are in a good position, like Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, and Efes, have made transfers. Transfers are something that in big teams can be discussed, and our team is thinking about some players. I don’t know if it will be these players, none, or some others. One of the best teams at the moment, Fenerbahce, signed De Colo and Silva. Olympiacos signed Jones; it’s normal,” he added without giving any more details on the issue.