Post-game quotes, Champions League Final Eight Belgrade, Quarterfinals
Barceloneta – Jug 11:9
“We knew that we couldn’t record an easy win. Jug is a rival for respect, and they proved it today. In the first half, we let Jug start too many attacks from transition because of our bad play in the outside line. After the middle break, we consolidated our defense.”
Elvis fatovic
“I am proud of my team. We are back in the semifinals, which we missed last year. We expected a tough game against Jug. Their young but quality team played without pressure and proved as a tough opponent. Still, in crucial moments we showed we had quality players who made the difference. The defense was our better side today, despite two missed penalties in the first quarter. However, the mistakes like those are something normal at the start of the important tournament.
Maro Jokovic, Jug’s most experienced player:
“We played well and kept up with the very good opponent. The two or three minutes in the third quarter, when Felipe Perrone netted two quick goals, disrupted us. But, we don’t have what to regret anything”
Dusan Matkovic (Barceloneta):
“We expected this match to be difficult, like every first match in the tournament, it takes some time to get used to the environment. We are satisfied and we are moving on, our expectations are the highest, but we will talk about the semi-finals when we find out who our opponent is.
Marko Zuvela (Jug):
“We were tied without two players against Barceloneta, who won Group A in the first two periods. However, in the third quarter, they made the difference, and we couldn’t come back and they deservedly won.”
Novi Beograd – Olympiacos 13:11
Zivko Gocic Novi Beograd’s head coach:
“The most important thing is that we won and made the semi-finals, it doesn’t matter how. Some players have a more important roles, some less significant roles in this victory, but I wouldn’t single anyone out. Barceloneta is a phenomenal team with a strong rhythm, which has shown the most in the current phase of the competition.”
“Despite the fact that the match didn’t enter a thrilling finish, it wasn’t an easy win. On contrary, it was a tough game. But, we played really well I think it was Novi Beograd’s best performance this season. We didn’t have blackouts like in the many previous matches. We were on the same level throghout the match.”
“All Barceloneta’s players are my friends. I will try to approach that game like the every other. The only thing that bothers me is that Marc Larumbe will defend me”, Alvaro said with a smile
Dusko Pjetlovic (Novi Beograd):
“We were lucky that we didn’t have a blackout the whole game, but only at the end of the last quarter. But, before that, we managed to make a safe difference. Barceloneta is a physically stronger opponent. Perone is the brain of the team, we must stop him.”
“We let Novi Beograd score too many easy goals, while we missed many chances with a man-up. We wanted to stress and press Novi Beograd until the end of the game, but we couldn’t do that.
Filip Filipovic (Olympiacos):
“Novi Beograd was at a higher level than us today, they deserved to go to the semi-finals. We had chances, but we didn’t take them. This game is maybe the most realistic picture of our whole season. I think we should regret it because this team is composed to make more than the quarterfinals.”
Brescia – Vouliagmeni 10:11
“This season, we have played seven games against the top European teams. Today, we finally managed, for the first time to keep the same rhythm throughout the game – from the first whistle until the final buzzer. Vouliagmeni is among the top four teams in Europe, which is an unbelievable success. We go on, we have to prepare well for the semifinals.Before the tournament, I said that bad weather would suit us. However, we earned a big advantage before the break caused by rain and thunders. Usually, after the breaks like this was, the team that was in a bad rhythm, manages to come back. We didn’t let Brescia come back into the game, managed to control the result and showed the character.”
Vladimir Vujasinovic
“We didn’t come here to be only participants; we wanted to win as many games as we could. In the past two weeks, we were completely focused on this match and arrived at the Final Eight very well-prepared. I think we did a very good job today. Our goalie’s performance was very important for our win. But the whole defense was up to the task. We didn’t let Brescia score easy goals from transitions.”
“Our defeat to Vouliagmeni is a surprise for everyone and me too. We believed we could reach the semifinals. However, as I said before the tournament, everything can happen when a single match decides. We played very badly in defense in the first half. We improved our defense after the break, but we still had problems in positional attacks.”
“We ended as we started. We did not enter the match well, we conceded goals easily. We allowed the opponent to take a big lead quickly, so we chased them the whole game. We are normally the team that controls the game, but this time we failed to do so. The whole impression is a disaster, we came for the trophy, not to be eliminated in the quarter-finals.”
Pro Recco – Ferencvaros 8:4
“Lately we have been playing games with a low number of goals. We are used to a hard rhythm where the game is physically stronger, after the final of the Italian league with Brescia. For the third year in a row, we beat Ferencvaros in the final eight, so far we have won trophy every time, I hope they will be successful this time as well.”
“It looked like a routine victory, but it was extremely physically demanding. We were focused, we defended well with a man down, and the goalkeeper was phenomenal. On paper, Vouliagmeni is certainly an easier opponent, but considering that they beat Brescia, it means that they are stronger.”
“Our defense was very good. We conceded only eight goals against Pro Recco. Few teams can do that. But, our attack couldn’t find the solutions for Recco’s defense, which was perfect today. Their advantage was a “longer bench”, especially now, at the end of the season. We now have to battle for 5th place. We didn’t used to, but we are professionals and we will have the same approach to each game.”
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