Grimau: “We didn’t play a good game”

Roger Grimau did not want to make excuses at the end of a match with many controversial plays and many protests to the referees. “We didn’t play a good game, we weren’t comfortable,” declared the Barça coach, who especially regretted his team’s poor performance. “In the first half we allowed them easy shots and it hindered us,” he said.

“Depends on what concessions are needed to recover, especially against a rival as tough as this one. You have to try not to let them hurt you in situations they don’t normally do. They’re running a little bit but in the missing ball they can do it. You have to control the transitions, the fouls in the moments without the bonus… At this level you have to do it very well,” Grimau developed.

Asked about his decision not to use Darío Brizuela, the coach defended his decision. “We believe that this is the rotation that we have to do. After losing, we can analyze a lot of things. If they are called, everyone is there to play and it is a technical decision. Like many mistakes that I have made, maybe it is one,” Grimau accepted.

Despite the defeat, Grimau did not want to miss the opportunity to send a message to Barça fans, “a message of gratitude and our people are very proud. We know they are there. The warmth they give us feels so good. It’s a long series, we’re going to fight and make sure they’re here on Friday because we’re going to give it our all. Let them come with the same enthusiasm,” he said.

Georgios Bartzokas, for his part, spoke of a match “with a lot of contact, very physical” and highlighted the fact that “we controlled the scoreboard throughout the match.” The Olympiacos coach did not abandon his usual cautious tone despite opening the series with an away victory. “We’re not going to change our philosophy, now we’re just thinking about Friday’s game, we’re not thinking about the series, just about the next game.”