Sarunas Jasikevicius lives the very sweet moment in his professional career After a spectacular season of his team, the Fenebahçe, who has managed to impose himself in all competitions, especially giving Fenerbahçe the second Euroleague in his story, although he says he is no longer worth looking back.
The Lithuanus, in an interview granted to the Greek media La Gazzeta during the meeting of the Asoaciation of European coaches in the Oaka of Athens, He acknowledges that his work is to re -create a champion team and more after the exit of the player who has been his' lighthouse'And leader in an impossible season, former Barca Nigel Hayes-Davis. “Without a doubt, Nigel is the player who will miss the next campaign,” says Saras, who already had it at his orders in Barça but who went practically unnoticed.
“Not only because of its quality, but also for our friendship, a total confidence that we have had both overcoming all the osbáculos together”commented the Lithuanian who has managed to squeeze the American until he becomes an MVP. A decline linked to that of Marco Guduric that will force “to activate Plan C, But life is, you have to adapt to circumstances and move on, ”he says.
Jasikevicius has managed to impose his style on Fenerbahçe to enjoy the best season of his career / EFE
A special year
But on a personal level, The now 49 -year -old Fenerbahçe coach says that if you talk in terms of sports success “this campaign will undoubtedly be especially rememberedalthough the coaches think differently. On some occasions you do the best job and do not earn and in others, everything is aligned in your favor, ”he says.
And is that the Lithuanian He has finally achieved the Euroleague as a coach after five appearances in the Final Four -Tres with Barça- until the most precious title fell from Europe.
Getting in five consecutive Four is an absolute success but people always end up seeing it as a failure if you don't want the title
“Getting in five consecutive Four is an absolute success but people always end up seeing it as a failure if you don't want the title. That is the dark part of the sport and in which the media are, ”he said, perhaps remembering not to have been able to take Barça to the top despite staying close.
A change of style?
Some players They point out that giving them more freedom of movement was beneficial for the group, something that does not confirm or denies. “Maybe I am a technician who squeezes a lot, or maybe too strict, but the truth is very simple, if you want you are a genius, but if you lose you are the problem, this business works,” he acknowledges.
Saras's demand with his players is something that is always out of doubt although some points out that he softened his forms / EFE
“We weren't a team that dazzled with its game but we formed a large group,” he explains. “We play a practical and simple basketball but that ended up being our greatest achievement,” he confesses in the interview.
A brutal Euroleague
Although last season it is already history and recognizes that the challenge in the next Euroleague is very big And more with the expansion of 18 to 20 teams and with 10 double weekly dayssomething that he recognizes worries him about the well -being of the players, although he knows that the show is above the rest.
“It's going to be brutal,” he says bluntly. “Without a doubt, it will be the hardest season in history, But we have to try to survive, that is the great challenge we have, ”concluded the technician who has won a good vacation where to enjoy the family and golf are his next priorities.
