Ergin Ataman addresses his future in Anadolu Efes / News - Basketnews.com

Ataman hinted that a change may be necessary at the end of the season and admitted to receiving offers from other EuroLeague teams.

Credit: IMAGO/kolbert-press - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/kolbert-press - Scanpix

Anadolu Efes Istanbul overcame AS Monaco 87-72 on Friday night to end their EuroLeague season with a bittersweet win.

Player of the Game EFF 25 Tibor Pleiss Points 21 Accuracy 10-15 Rebounds 12 Assists 0

"Of course, it was very difficult to play a game like this, without a goal for the back-to-back champion team," head coach Ergin Ataman said. "After five years, this is the first time we played a game without a big goal. Anyway, we showed that [we can play well] when we focus and we don't have injured guards, because our system depends too much on them. I am very sad because, after four years [in which] we made history in European basketball, this season we failed and, of course, as a coach, this is my fault."

The back-to-back EuroLeague champions will miss out on the postseason after finishing 11th with a 17-17 record.

"We are going through a sensitive period, and I can make emotional statements during this period," Ataman pointed out. "We will make the decision on whether to continue with Anadolu Efes together with our president at the end of the season. We talked with our president Tuncay Ozilhan this week, but we haven't come to a clear decision yet.

"Honestly, we're pretty worn out this season," he added. "We failed this season. Therefore, at the end of the season, a change may be required for everyone. This is decided together. We are like a family, Anadolu Efes will always be my family even if I leave.

"I left in the past, and then I came back. As I said, there is no clear decision yet, but there seems to be a need for change," Ataman addressed his future in the club.

Efes have become the first team in modern EuroLeague history to not make the playoffs after winning the title the year before. Coach Ataman's contract ends after the season, and he hasadmitted that he's already received an offerfromPanathinaikos Athens.

Points this season

49%83,0Points made:83,0Accuracy:49,4%Place in standings:8Record max:111Record min:64Best scorer:Will ClyburnTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

He hinted about the offers on Friday, too.

"I don't think that I will only coach the Turkish national team after winning the EuroLeague two times in a row. There are some offers from EuroLeague teams for me," Ataman revealed.

The 57-year-old led Anadolu Efes to a club renaissance since taking over the team in 2017.

After a terrific run, when Efes went from the worst team all the way to the EuroLeague final in the 2018-19 season, Ataman also lifted two EuroLeague trophies in the last two years.

"When I took over Efes in the 2017-18 season, this team was the last in the EuroLeague, and a maximum of 2500-3000 people came to watch games," Ataman stressed. "For five years, we played almost all the matches at Sinan Erdem in front of a sold-out crowd. We became the most watched and appreciated team in Europe.

"As I said, we'll see what happens. We have not succeeded this season, but there will be many people who appreciate what we've done for sports history. I would like to thank all Efes fans for cheering me on at the beginning and end of the game. I hope every sports-world person will be given an opportunity to feel such support. Still, it seems like a journey is at the end of the road."

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