By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
BELGRADE – Zeljko Obradovic has won nine EuroLeague titles, more than any other coach in history, and Real Madrid also has won nine EuroLeague titles, more than any other club in history.
It’s an ideal scenario, however for Zoc, as he is known to his friends, his motivation for winning remains the same as always: “Motivation starts always in the first practice of the season. When we meet each other with a new player, a new team. Then it starts, cause we know we have to work, spend time, be better. This is motivation. Of course, coming in the Final Four, it’s already a big motivation. We are playing the third final with Fenerbahce in three years and that creates an even bigger motivation. If I wake up one morning and things are different, I will retire somewhere near Athens in Greece“.
Pablo Laso will be sitting on Real Madrid‘s bench. The opponent of Obradovic was his player back in 1995 when Obradovic won the EuroLeague title with Real Madrid. “It’s not one thing“, said Laso when asked about what he has learned from Obradovic: “It was a process of day by day learning. We were unlucky because Zeljko left after two seasons because we could have created a team which could have been successful for years. It just didn’t work. What I learned as a player under Zeljko, I used them as a coach. I remember a game in Copa, we were winning by 10 points I was playing and Zeljko said to me: “Pablo you did your job, now sit down”. I would kill him. That kind of little things”.
“I just reminded my players who they are”
When Real Madrid was playing in Athens in the playoffs against Panathinaikos, Laso said after the win in Game 2 that a Greek shopkeeper said to him that his players “competed like chickens“. He was asked about the reaction of his team and smiled: “First of all, I am happy this guy from Athens is now famous. My players were not chickens, they looked like chickens. What he said, was something that was not right. He was sincere though. When I said it to my team, I knew they were not chickens. I just reminded them who they are“.
And that’s why when he and Real Madrid’s guard Rudy Fernandez were asked if the final is a matter of the heart, they knew that things are not that simple. “Heart can be a plus, however, the point is that I don’t know if I will have the opportunity to return to a Final Four and that makes the final even more important for me”, said Fernandez and Laso added: “It’s not a matter of the heart. It’s about work and playing hard every night during the season. You can have heart or not, however, I think that my players have it. Still, everyone has heart, especially on this level. In any case, I am proud of my team and the work we have done”.
“Only the jerseys and the clubs are the same. The players are different, the conditions are different”, answered Laso when he was asked to compare the final with last years’ semifinal between the two teams in which Fenerbahce got the win and Fernandez added: “Being on the final gives a bigger motivation to us and Fenerbahce. A final is always a big opportunity. We are finally healthy after a hard season with many injuries. It’s not about taking revenge, it’s about playing a Euroleague Final”.
“The point guard is a special position”
On the side of Zeljko Obradovic, Kostas Sloukas was seated. The three times Euroleague champ, two with Olympiacos and last season with Fenerbahce, is a key player for Obradovic plans, who hesitated to call him a leader, but explained why he is important: “Kostas is a leader, like all the players. But being the point guard is a special position and has a connection with the coach. I am happy we have this and we work the way that we work”.
Sloukas himself added: “I am happy and proud of our team. We deserved to play one more final. This is the third final for Fenerbahce in three years and that proves we are one of the top teams in Europe, like the club wanted and dreamed of. We will play against a great team, we hope that we will win the cup. I don’t think about the number of my finals and trophies, my goal is to be focused on the next game. The leader is not me, it’s the coach. We just have to follow his gameplan”.
Final Four forever
The Final four will end with a bang and that’s why when both coaches asked if the playoffs would have been a better format, they disagreed. “The format is excellent if you understand the impact that has the event all over Europe“, said Obradovic. “The new format and the playoffs are great, but the final four is something special”. And Laso added: “I agree with him. This is an unbelievable weekend in Belgrade, what else do you want?”
Here’s the full press conference.
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