By Mehmet Bahadır Akgün / info@eurohoops.net
The Italian mastermind behind Fenerbahce Dogus’ project things that the team is ready to win once more and above everything else, it has already built a legacy.
“We are so excited and proud to participate in the Final Four for the fourth time in our four seasons”, said Gherardini. “It is really good to take part in the final act of the season and it shows that the season has been really good. We fought with great teams throughout the season. We would like to thank our fans for this support, this success is thanks to them. In our first Final Four, we were the Cinderella. In the second year, we were the Princess. In the third year, we became the Queen. And I guess we are going as the Mother Queen this time”.
Gherardini also spoke about Panathinaikos and the ongoing tension with the EuroLeague: “I think Panathinaikos is part of the EuroLeague history. And I think everybody’s hope is that let’s say, there’s a solution to all these. I think it’s in everybody’s best interest that the clubs that created the history of the EuroLeague, stay together in this project and continue together. But again, I’m not in a position to go further than this. I think there is no doubt there is a desire from everybody that a club like Panathinaikos stays within this project. But again you cannot control other people’s decision. The good thing about the EuroLeague is that we are all together but also we are free to decide what is best for each club. On the other hand, the priority needs always to be the interest of the EuroLeague as a competition and how to develop it as a brand. So we’ll see”.
Speaking about the results of the Fenerbahce, Gherardini explained the blueprint that the club had since the start of the Obradovic era: “Well, I think this is the result of hard work from every component of this club. This is a big club. This is an unbelievable club with an unbelievable fan base. But when you reach consistent success, it comes from the management, which is the club that allows you to manage the situation, the work of a great coaching staff and of course the players on the court. Also, you have to make sure that everything works the right way and puts everybody in a position to do their job and just focus on the job only. I think this was our goal four years ago. Not to just go and make it to the Final Four, which was something at the time that no other Turkish club had ever achieved. But our goal was to try to be consistent and have the Final Four as a goal every season. I think we have been clever at reaching this goal every season and being consistent in the final act of a major competition like EuroLeague. And this, again, comes from the work that everybody is putting together. I think this is the real reason why we can reach such a level every season”.
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