Balcerowski: "Olympiacos motivates us to improve"

Olek Balcerowski is convinced that the upcoming match of the FC Barcelona against Olympiacos represents an opportunity to continue the team's growth. In the lead-up to the match, the azulgrana player has emphasized how the two consecutive victories against Valencia Basket and Maccabi Tel Aviv have strengthened the collective mindset, although he insists that the demands of the European calendar require forgetting the past and focusing on the immediate.

“Winning games is always good for the team's mentality, to trust in what the coach asks us to do. I think we are very happy to have secured these two victories against two great teams. This doesn't stop, now we have another challenge and we forget what happened,” the pivot stated in his pre-match comments.

Olympiacos as a Competitive Stimulus

The Greek team represents an important challenge for the FC Barcelona, but also a motivation to keep improving in European competition. Balcerowski highlighted the level of the opponent and emphasized that his previous experience with Panathinaikos does not make this clash special from a personal perspective; instead, he sees it as just another game where the goal is to win.

“Olympiacos should be a motivation for all of us. It is a great team, playing very well. Personally, every game is a motivation to improve and win games, that won’t change tomorrow,” explained the Polish player, who maintains a balanced perspective on the importance of the matchup without blowing it out of proportion.

Character, an Innate Quality

One of the aspects the pivot wanted to highlight is the competitive character of the team, a quality that according to Balcerowski cannot be trained but is part of each player's identity. This mentality of constant fighting, regardless of the circumstances, is what differentiates teams that achieve their goals from those that do not.

“Character can't be trained. It's an identity of each one of us, and our team has the character to always fight, no matter the circumstances. That is not trained; it's something each of us carries inside,” the pivot emphasized, underscoring that this quality is fundamental in competitions like the Euroleague and Liga Endesa.

Personal Satisfaction and Confidence from the Coaching Staff

On an individual level, Balcerowski has expressed satisfaction with his current situation at FC Barcelona and gratitude for the trust received from both the coaching staff and his teammates. The Polish player emphasizes that having importance at such a magnitude club, competing in Euroleague and Liga Endesa, is a reason for gratitude and responsibility.

“I’m doing very well, I’m very happy to be able to help the team like this, and that the coach and teammates trust me. I’m super grateful to have importance in a club like this, in Euroleague and Liga Endesa. I’m trying to do the best I can to help the team get wins, which is the main thing for me. I feel good in the team, with the style of play we're having, and the coach helps me a lot. I think he trusts me, which is the most important,” the pivot indicated.

Focus on Continuous Improvement

Balcerowski has avoided considering the match against Olympiacos as a definitive test to measure the real level of FC Barcelona. Instead, he prefers to see it as just another game where the goal is to win, but also an opportunity to improve aspects of the game that aren’t functioning optimally yet.

“We don’t see it as a test; we see it as a game we want to win and we’ll see who is better. Every day is a test to improve, to be more of a team, to improve the things we are doing poorly and to do better the things we do well. Every game is a challenge; tomorrow is a great team, but we will do our part and see how it goes,” stated the player with a pragmatic and process-focused perspective.

European Titles and the Recovery of Lessort

The Polish player also referred to the possibility of winning European titles on a recurring basis, acknowledging that he is the only player to have won the BCL, Eurocup, and Euroleague. This successful track record allows him to speak knowledgeably about what it means to win in different European competitions.

“A European title every year? I think it’s about being in the right place at the right time,” Balcerowski noted, also taking the opportunity to highlight the recovery of Mathias Lessort, with whom he coincided at Panathinaikos. The pivot expressed happiness to see Lessort in good shape after his injury, demonstrating his ability to play as he did before the ailment.

“I’m very happy for Lessort for being able to come back and do the things he did before. He couldn’t play much, but seeing him in good shape and playing like he did before the injury is very good. Panathinaikos is playing well, and I’m glad for him,” concluded the pivot of the FC Barcelona, showing a generous perspective towards his former competitive teammates.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Balcerowski: «El Olympiacos nos motiva a mejorar»