Dinos Mitoglou: “Lesor will return even more beast”

He was from the protagonists of last year’s march until the trophy was won in Euroleague and spoke of the presence of himself and the team in the event. In an interview with Eurohoops, Dinos Mitoglou also mentioned Erkin Ataman, but also Matias Lesor and his injury, which Greek forward saw in person. CORVERSE Mitoglou’s statements On whether there is any goal of opponents, due to the conquest of Euroleague: “There certainly is. This is also the different approach of opponents and generally of all who play us, because it is perfectly normal. They play with the European champion and the deal is not at all the same as last year. Everyone wants to beat us, everyone plays much more competitive and sees us even more competitive.” About whether this is motive, it’s fearsome or something: “I think everyone needs to understand that competition has changed and that we were at the top last year and now they all want to take us down from the top. It’s perfectly normal when you play on a high level and they’re crowned champions. So they have to understand where they are, which team they play and understand their role. I think you should be properly prepared physically and emotionally in your mind in general, because the game is now in your mind.” Whether players discuss Final 4: “No we don’t discuss it, nor do we think about it. We’re going straight to play games. This is our mentality, we have learned as professionals every day we are on the field to give 100% and play a game with the race. So whether we win or lose, for us it’s a routine and we have to work hard. So Final 4 to say it and mention it is too far away, it shouldn’t be in our minds. We have to finish as high as possible in the regular season, then look at the playoffs and then the Final 4”. CORVERSE About what Erkin Ataman’s effect on Panathinaikos’ organization is: “Clearly he is an excellent coach, very impulsive as a man and with many intense feelings. Generally you can understand what he thinks and what he does not, he is very outward, although as a human being he is not at all, but his movements clearly show what he wants. Our collaboration with him is excellent, I know exactly what he wants and what he asks, requires you to enter to play, you are a professional and we are all on the same page.” About what’s more psychoractic for him, being basic or coming over the counter: “The two situations are completely different, but each of them have their advantages and disadvantages. It depends mainly on the team how the game starts, but when you come from the bench you can also become the game changer. Personally I have no problem with this, I am very open and whether I start basic or come from the bench, I want to give 100% and help the team win. Maybe it mattered when I was younger, but now it has none.” About whether they have gathered in the team of players who are not selfish like Juancho: “I believe we have people with great personalities who have learned to star at the high level. Our locker rooms are excellent, there’s great chemistry, no player has ever created anything, so I’m very happy and lucky to live in these situations. I also have to say that competition is very high, which is perfectly normal, but like you said, we’re all very good guys. I am glad that the level of my teammates is quite high on this track and are too professional.” About whether he imagines himself in the future lifting a trophy: “Of course, that is the goal. Being in a team that needs to star everywhere and of course goals are titles and victories.” How much this whole doping thing has changed him as a human being and as a professional: “I had to grow up faster than I had to. I experienced some situations that some athletes see when they stop basketball. So this all makes you think too many things, grow up, change some things around you, so I think I’ve changed too quickly and grown up in many things.” The fact that he’s not active in social media and if he doesn’t: “It’s always like Dinos. I’d like to upload and post something when my team goes well. But when it’s not going well, I’d rather be quiet, calm, and generally I’m not the kind of guy I’m going to put up something to eat. I consider myself more serious and different from these things, so it’s about how the team’s course is and when I feel it I’ll post something.” For the shocking injury of Matias Lesor: “I was the first to see it. It’s something incredibly unpleasant. Unfortunately at our level and our space there are these moments. All the players I think went and visited him, others at the hospital and others at his house, as did I. I saw him very happy, he was well, we wish him the best, he knows we’re there for him, and so is the organization. Unfortunately, these moments exist and you must remain only strong. I think that only good will this do Matias and he will become even stronger, he will sit down with a lot of calm, he will watch a lot of basketball, he will think with himself, he will see some things much different and he will return even more beastly than he was. Believe it and keep it.” About whether there will be some players who will do the step up before Lesor’s injury: “I’m sure Matias had a very large lead role in our team, so some players have to go ahead and star.” What the locker room looks like without Mathias: “The first three days were very quiet. They all knew what happened, it was a very heavy climate. They helped somehow at Christmas, even the days off for New Year’s Eve, but we still think about them very strongly.” About whether it’s something that all the shirts did with Champions: “These shirts as soon as we got the championship came Nan and gave us all this shirt. Someone else did it to white and another to black. I found her in my locker room after National, because they probably came after the championship. Excellent initiative and I have worn it too many times in my home.”