By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos’ owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos spoke to Αrale Weisberg of Walla and what he had to say about the club were more than interesting.
While speaking on an Israeli media, Giannakopoulos admitted his admiration for Pini Gershon: “There’s no better coach in Europe than Obradovic. He is something bigger than basketball. In the history of the sport in Europe only maybe Alexander Gomelski was better. However, my biggest mistake was not hiring Gershon in the end of the season 2013-14. Pini Gershon is the best coach during the 40 minutes of the game. I have him very high in my mind. He knows how to make changes on the fly, he understands the psychology of the game. We had talks during mid-season and then also in the summer and each time there were circumstances that prevented the his arrival. Maybe in the coming years will see it happening”,
For the retirement of Diamantidis, Giannakopoulos stated: “This is a difficult day, but no one is bigger than the club. We did everything to change his mind, we had people outside his house begging him, we talked to his wife, but when Dimitris takes a decision it’s final. A lot of athletes in Panathinaikos came and go but it is clear that Diamantidis was above every one else. Still I believe that big clubs like Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow, will always find a way to continue”.
When he hugged Giannis Bourouris in the end of the game between Panathinaikos and Baskonia last season, many believed that this move was the start of his recruiting for the player. Giannakopoulos explained: “Giannis is one of the best players in Europe and we always want the best Greek players for our roster. My gesture had nothing to do with that. I went to hug him because of the history between our fans, since he was playing at Olympiacos. I wanted to change this. I do not want the players of the guests to feel uncomfortable in our gym. The rivalry is part of the sport, but this had only to do with the 40 minutes of the game. I hope that misters Angelopoulos (owners of Olympiacos) realize it soon. Basketball is a sport and it should be fun”.