The press conference of the grand final of the Challenge Cup (15/3, 20:00) between the men’s volleyball team of Olympiakos and Maccabi Tel Aviv was held on Tuesday evening (14/3) at the Stadium of Peace and Friendship.

AOn the home side, coach Alberto Giuliani and team captain Dragan Travica spoke, as did their Israeli counterparts Gal Galili and Gennady Sokolov.

The press conference was opened by CEV Supervisor Nagiz Ismailova, while afterwards SEF President Christina Tsiligiri and Olympiakos Secretary General Dimitris Nakos addressed the press conference.

Alberto Giuliani:

“Of course we respect the Maccabi team a lot. They are a team that plays good volleyball. But it will be different in front of our fans. We want to play well in front of our crowd, we are in good shape. We are ready and we want to be ahead achieve victory in our world, we are ready.

We will get energy from the world. Our goal is to play better than usual. The atmosphere will help us play nice volleyball. I’m waiting to breathe the atmosphere, to feel it.

The Greek fans and our fans are very warm. It is something that everyone involved in sports expects and dreams of. It’s a great privilege for us to play a final in such a stadium and in front of so many spectators. i live in the moment

I can’t compare what he’s done in the past (ie with a question about trophies he’s won in the past). This moment is important for my career! Every athlete dreams of such moments. It’s important for me, for the players and for Maccabi.”

Dragan Travica:

“These finals are not one game, but two. So that’s the most interesting thing. In the first one you can have a very good game, but not in the second. So tomorrow is the important game. Let’s play a very good game where we want to finish our work. We have a great responsibility to the public. To make both the fans and us and all of Greece happy.”

We want to get our job done and make everyone happy, combined with looking good. We want to make our fans proud! In our minds and hearts it is nothing but finishing what we started in Israel. I don’t think it’s an advantage (including the fact that they’ve played in Rentis Hallenstadion and now in SEF) but we don’t think about it. We focus more on the game. It’s nice, but it’s worth playing in such a big stadium with so many people at an event like this.”

Gal Galili:

“Of course, for us tomorrow it’s undoubtedly a very important game, it’s a great achievement for our team that we’ve reached the final this season. After the result of the first final and with Olympiacos playing at home, it’s a one-off Such a strong team obviously has an advantage. But we believe in our strengths, we will give everything, we want to do our best, even though we think Olympiacos have the big advantage.”.

Gennady Sokolov:

“Like the coach said, Olympiacos are a very strong team but everyone at Maccabi thinks this is a historic final and we really believe we can push Olympiacos, play a good game and get the win.”

Nagiz Ismailova:

“Thank you to the stadium for hosting us. I hope everyone is having a good time and I wish both teams the best of luck.”

Christina Ziligiri:

“Welcome you all to the Peace and Friendship Stadium for the Challenge Cup Final between Olympiakos and Maccabi Tel Aviv. As management, we are particularly pleased to host such an important game in the stadium’s facilities, especially when a Greek team wins a European Cup.

At SEF, we have set the bar high from the start. We chased all events in quotes and ended up attracting even more. In recent years we have proven ourselves to be a modern and efficient center for events of a cultural nature, among other things, but above all for work sports, athletics, basketball and today the volleyball final.

Events that received intercollegiate and pan-European recognition. The SEF is a stage that can transform quickly and overcome the hurdles and hurdles traditionally found at such events. He has changed, he has matured and so has his management to master challenges successfully. Finally, I would like to congratulate both teams who are here. The fans who will flood the stadium, as well as those watching on TV, will see a final that lives up to all expectations.”

Dimitris Nakos:

“On behalf of our team, our Olympiakos, our President Michalis Kountouri and on behalf of the entire Board, I extend a warm welcome and salute to the other worthy finalists of the final and our opponent, our opponent only on the inside pitch.

Olympiacos is not only the biggest team in Greece. It is a sports organization that has been leading and outstanding in recent years at European and global level. Another year we face another great European challenge, another great European final.

An appointment that has now become a habit in all our sports! A European date in the finals and possibly conquering another trophy. A goal that we set ourselves from the start of the season. We want to have a great match and celebrate another trophy together at the end.”