Post-game quotes, Champions League final Eight, Day 2.
Semifinals
Novi Beograd – Barceloneta 12:10 (PSO)
“In the first half we made too many mistakes, the same mistakes we talked about the game and wanted to avoid them. Because of that, I called a time-out and told players to show their best and to play the best they know. We didn’t want and couldn’t figure something new in the tactics and our style of play. The players believed in themselves and believed they could win. That self-confidence and big fight led us to the victory. The outcome could be completely different. Barceloneta played excellently and I congratulate our rival. At the moment, it’s most important that we are in the final. “
“I congratulate the team. We managed to come back from a 3-goal deficit and win the game. I hope we won’t let ourselves such downs in the play we had in the first half in the final and try to win the title. Our man-down was the crucial factor, but also our attacks with a man-up in the second half. We were patient, and waited for the end of the attacks with an extra player.”
“I think we played well, much better than yesterday against Jug. We controlled the first two quarters. In the third period, we lost our compass in attack, which opened up opportunities for them to transition. However, we came back again and maybe we were the better team. Overall, our powerplay was no longer functioning well.”
“My team played an unbelievable game, in the end, but it was also little details that made us win this game.”
“The oscillations in the play are normal in the games like this was. We played very well in the first half. Novi Beograd, which had a lot of excellent individuals, took control in the second half. As for Barceloneta’s future, we have to work to keep the rhythm of the game we played in the first half throughout the entire match. But our play in the first half wasn’t normal it was something outstanding.”
“We were passive in the first half, and they scored a couple of nice goals. In the second half, we increased the rhythm and solved the issue going to the final. I don’t expect a beautiful game in the final, our advantage is that we have two left-handers, Novi Belgrade has none.”
“It is always a tough game in the Champions League semifinals, whoever is your rival. The best teams in the world play at this tournament. I think, maybe we came into the match a little bit too easy, not in the way as we should. But after that we imposed our rhythm and secured a win. On Saturday, we will meet Novi Beograd in the final, just as in the previous year. It will be a tough final for sure, but at the moment, we are not thinking about that, but only about the first minute, first attack and first defense.”
“My players gave their best. We played as best as we could, especially in the first half. It’s always hard to play against for Pro Recco, it isn’t hard only for Vouliagmeni, but for all teams in Europe. They are physically dominant, very strong, the players at the best age. Their dominance came up to the surface in the third period, they started pressuring us and we didn’t endure. I congratulate my players and wish Recco luck in the rest of the competition.”
Semifinals, 5th-8th place
Olympiacos – Jug 15:4
Igor Milanovic, Olympiacos’ head coach commented on the games against Jug and on yesterday’s loss to Novi Beograd:
“After a loss in the quarterfinals and a hard, bad, and long night, the players found motivation to play today’s game well. I don’t know which was a crucial factor , our good play, or Jug’s bad performance. Anyway, the players showed team spirit. We left without two players shortly after the beginning (Gkillas was excluded with substitution, Fountoulis also was out due to injury – Ed). Therefore, I didn’t have room for improvisation, but the team endured until the end.
As for the game against Novi Beograd in the quarterfinals, I take responsibility for our bad performance. We didn’t play as we could. We made a mistake, and we have to analyze what went wrong. Congratulations to Novi Beograd, which played the game on a constant level and deserved the win.”
Ferencvaros – Brescia 9:8
Nemanja Ubovic, Ferencvaros’ centre-forward:
“It’s always hard to play the classification matches after you lose the quarterfinals. It’s always hard to find motivation, we should avoid injuries, especially because many of the players will have a packed summer with the national team. We try to finish the tournament in the best possible way. We entered the match very focused, which brought us a lead in the opening quarter. In the final period, our wish to win was decisive.”
Petar Tesanovic, Brescia’s goalkeeper:
“These classification matches have not much sense. We arrived here to reach at least semifinals, but we failed. However, we did our best today, but Ferencvaros was a better rival.”
