Bagatskis: Support for Ukrainian fighters motivates us 100%

Today the Ukrainian team will play in the 1/8 finals of EuroBasket-2022

Head coach of the Ukrainian national team Ainars Bagatskis spoke about the motivation and reaction to criticism after the matches of the group round EuroBasket 2022.

“Second place in the group is a good result, given the current situation in the country, as we were preparing. I would like to say that this is just the beginning and we’ll see. We have set the bar quite high. Let’s see if we can support it. I don’t see any reason why we can’t continue like this. In terms of the quality of the game and the statistics, we spend each new match calmer. Less technical marriage, bad decisions, adventures. If all this is removed, we can achieve high goals. The calendar probably helped us, considering how everything turned out.”

“Everyone thought that we would fight for fourth place in the group. But I don’t read the nonsense that they write about the national team. I think that getting out of the group from the second place is a success. If someone had said this to the “specialists” before the start of the tournament … But now there is a modern trend, originally from the NBA – to criticize and provoke everyone. Say some nasty things about the team and coaches. The best solution is not to read this.”

“You have to focus on your work. The main thing is that we have proved to ourselves that we are worth something. I myself do not read what they write about the team. Doesn’t really care what others say. But we have players and coaches in our team who are very worried about this. They read it and show it to me. But I say, “Keep me out of it.” I have not read what they write after matches for about 12 years. It doesn’t matter if the game was good or not. If we have to prove to anyone, it is to ourselves. Everything else is secondary.”

“Yes, the support of Ukrainian fighters motivates us 100%. When you are inside the team, you feel how charged it is with the thought of those who are now at the front. After the victory over Estonia, Ilya Sidorov said at a press conference, addressing the Ukrainian soldiers: “We are with you.” And it is true”.

In the 1/8 finals of EuroBasket 2022, our team will play against Poland. The match will take place on September 11th. The start of the match, which will be held in Berlin, is 13:00 Kyiv time.

Recall that Ukraine won three victories in the group and finished in second place, losing the lead to Greece.

Source: Sportarena

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