Accustomed to hosting nights of joy in these latitudes of European competition, of euphoria for Barça, the Palau was this time the scene of Blaugrana disappointment. Goodbye to the final four and the dream of the Euroleague. Long faces in the stands and on the hardwood, even with tears on some faces. The gesture of Roger Grimau, a more completely dejected Barcelona fan, was no exception, who barely managed to put together a few words to explain the very tough defeat against Olympiacos.
“It was a very tight game. It’s a hard day. It was difficult to find good situations and in the end they decided on two triples. He has decided on small things. I want to thank the Palau for its support. “I feel infinitely bad for not having given them this victory,” analyzed the Blaugrana coach, especially hurt by the mistake from the perimeter, with only three triples out of 24 attempts: “On a defensive level we have been good, we have lacked success in attack.”
Despite the pain of the defeat, the Catalan coach advocated looking forward: “We have to continue in the ACB League. We have to go for it. At this time, after losing, we are annoyed, but we have no choice but to get up and look for our best version. In life, difficult moments make you grow and be better, and I hope they do.”
Ricky Rubio expressed himself along the same lines. “It was difficult, but that’s how games at this level are. We have been up to the task, but they have been more successful,” explained the Masnou player about a defeat that was decided by “small details.” “We should not have reached an equal end. We were playing at home, we should have taken an advantage and kept it,” concluded the point guard.
The sadness that reigned in the Blaugrana ranks contrasted with the Greek joy. “It was a great victory. We feel very proud,” explained Olympiacos coach Georgios Bartzokas. The coach, with a past on the Palau bench, praised Grimau’s team and thanked the Blaugrana for their education in the defeat. “There have been a lot of nerves on both teams. We have had a great mentality in a very difficult environment. We never give up, that’s the most important thing. We know how to face this pressure and we transmit that faith among ourselves,” the Athenian analyzed his team. “It’s incredible to win the fifth game here, although it was an ugly game. “I am very happy for my teammates, coaches and the fans, who are incredible,” said Nigel Williams-Goss. The Piraeus point guard will now face his former team in the semifinals of the final four. “We are going for the challenge of beating Real Madrid. It is the type of situations that a competitor wants to experience,” concluded the American.
