Partizan's president Mijailovic defends Obradovic, players: 'They have my full support' / News - Basketnews.com

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The day after the shocking fallout from the EuroCup was not easy at all for Partizan NIS Belgrade. Disappointment is visible everywhere, as expectations were high.

2-pointers this season

55%21,9Points made:21,9Accuracy:55,3%Place in standings:4Record max:30Record min:17Most made 2FGs:Mathias LessortTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

The Serbian giants hosted Frutti Extra Bursaspor in front of a sellout crowd, had a five-point lead going into the last seconds of the game and still got eliminated by the Turkish team before they even reached the quarter-finals.

Despite the painful defeat, the club's president Ostoja Mijailovic pointed out that every member of the team and the coaching staff has his full support.

“It's not easy to be a fan of Partizan today, but life goes on," Mijailovic said in an interview with Mozzart Sports.

"There is victory, there is defeat. There will be more heavy losses, but I'm confident that will we triumph in the end. We were expecting a win against Bursa, but the game proved us wrong," the president of the black-and-white pointed out, before commenting on the atmosphere in the Stark Arena.

"I want to thank the fans. The atmosphere came close to the 2010 EuroLeague playoffs against Maccabi. Unfortunately, we were all disappointed, but Partizan fans are always supportive. I expect full stands in the ABA League playoffs because our fans are cheering for the club, not for the result“.

Mijailovic also expressed his unequivocal support to all members of the team, players and coaching staff.

That's particularly important since Zeljko Obradovic said in the postgame presser, "I came here for three years. If I am the issue, there's no problem for me to leave."

"I talked to the our coach briefly last night in the locker room. I told him that he has my full support and that he should keep everyone together towards the common goal. Partizan is his house, always was and always will be. There's no need to talk about the qualities of Zeljko Obradovic and all the people who spend their entire day in the gym.

Aleksa Avramovic

MIN:20.86PTS:9 (49.71%)REB:2.47As:3.35ST:1.59BL:0.24TO:1.88GM:17ProfileEuroCup2021/2022

It's a sport. Bursaspor is a team with quality. Of course, that's no excuse for our failure, but life goes on," he went on to say.

Mijailovic also referred to certain players receiving strong criticism on social media.

"These players also deserve our support. I saw that Aleksa Avramovic was accused on social networks. I have to say that this is a player who is a first-rate professional, always valiant, competitive, loves the club in the right way. Besides, he's was our first scorer last night. He wanted us to win as much as anyone. He's a born fighter."

But the repercussions of the defeat don't end here. "This will be a financial blow for the club. We're losing considerable income from tickets," Mijailovic stressed.

It turns out that the new EuroCup format has been disastrous for the favorites. Apart from Partizan, Joventut Badalona were also eliminated.

"The system is cruel, you play the whole season for everything to be decided in four games. I haven't seen it anywhere else by now, but well, it can't just be us that don't like it. If the system is good, it remains to be seen. I think it's not good," Mijailovic said.

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