Željko Obradović received a thunderous welcome on his return to Belgrade Arena, where Partizan’s fans greeted Europe’s most decorated coach as warmly as ever. The entire arena applauded him, even though he was coaching the opposing team this time. His Panathinaikos team secured a convincing win over Partizan Mozzart Bet in Round 5 of the EuroLeague, but even the loss did not change the way Partizan’s supporters welcomed and sent off their former coach.
Obradović’s decision to decline a gift Partizan had prepared for him before the game also drew considerable attention. He discussed that decision and his relationship with Partizan during his postgame press conference.
He opened the press conference with a brief assessment of Panathinaikos’ victory.
“Obviously, this was our first road game against Partizan, and in an atmosphere like this. We played a good game on both ends of the floor and came away with a valuable win”, Obradović said in his opening remarks.
“The Love Goes Both Ways”
Obradović also thanked Partizan’s supporters for the welcome he received.
“Thank you to everyone for this reception. The love goes both ways, there’s no doubt about that. I don’t need to repeat how I feel about this club, how much it means to me and how proud I am that these people recognize certain things. Nobody can take that away. Credit to them for the support they give the players, and I’m sure they’ll continue to do so. As for the game, this was our first road game. I think we played our best defensive game so far, but offensively we were tight, perhaps because of the atmosphere. The players deserve congratulations, and now we have to prepare for Hapoel”.
Questions about his previous tenure at Partizan were inevitable, as were those about the pressure and expectations surrounding his work.
“I have no reason to go back over what happened. I’ve said that my connection with this club is unbreakable, and it always will be. Those four and a half years were phenomenal, and I’m proud of them. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Partizan become a permanent EuroLeague member. All of us who were here in the previous period, along with the people working at the club now, have been working toward that. Everyone has the right to say who the favorite is, but I don’t pay attention to that. I’m focused on the court and on working with the people around me. I’ve spoken many times about pressure, and it’s always been there. You can’t escape what people say, but it doesn’t particularly interest me. My focus is on finding the best solutions for our players”.
Why He Declined Partizan’s Gift
He also explained why he declined Partizan’s gift before the game.
“I had a conversation about something being prepared, and I said there was no need for it. Partizan has given me everything, and the club doesn’t need to give me anything more. I feel like I’m part of this, and I always will. Nobody can take that away from me. The media take certain statements out of context, and suddenly it was reported that this game wasn’t important to me. What I said was that personal matters cannot be more important than the team, and you can see that in the Greek television interview. Of course the game against Partizan matters to me, and it’s an incredible feeling when you come out of the tunnel. The fans are still here singing, and as long as they remain like that, Partizan will always be one of the best clubs in Europe.”
Obradović also discussed his return to Panathinaikos and the freedom to focus entirely on basketball.
“I’m working at a club that has given me the opportunity to do what I love most, which is to focus solely on the court. There are a lot of young people here with great energy, and the players and coaching staff are here to think only about basketball. I have no problems whatsoever, and we hope it stays that way. There are big challenges ahead. We’ve only played five rounds, and there’s a very long road in front of us.”
“I Went Beyond My Limits”
He was also asked whether he felt he still owed Partizan anything after spending four and a half years as the club’s head coach.
“I don’t think so at all, and everyone knows that over those four years I went beyond my limits. I have absolutely no complaints about the club, either. I’ve said many times that Partizan is what matters most. Other people will come along, and this club has produced so many players, coaches and executives. That’s what matters most.”
The welcome he received at the airport left a particularly strong impression on him. In the same response, he also spoke about Carlik Jones, one of Partizan’s key players.
“What happened at the airport was something that can never be repeated. It’s impossible to explain, and it really moved me and shook me. However, decisions are made after thinking things through, and that’s how I arrived at mine. As for Carlik, he’s a phenomenal player and person. He’s the leader of this team, someone everything revolves around, and that will continue to be the case.”
Finally, Obradović shared his impressions of the team now coached by Joan Peñarroya.
“Partizan looks excellent. They have a very good defense. They play with tremendous energy, and you can see that the atmosphere within the team is excellent. I watched all their games during the preseason, and I already liked what I saw from Partizan back in Athens. I told Peñarroya that I liked his team, and I wish them all the best. They’re missing a player, but that’s not my job,” Obradović concluded.