Ergin Ataman's EURO 2024 comments: 'We don't have a Ronaldo'

National Men's Basketball Team and Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman made striking statements to TRT Spor.

Ergin Ataman's statements are as follows:

"We cannot play with our main strong squad in the European Championship Qualifiers. We have 5 players in the NBA right now. They are also very eager at the moment. Together with them, we want to win a medal with a full squad at the 2025 European Championship.

All championships aside, the national team is in a league of its own. If our kids in the NBA come to the 2025 European Championship, we have a serious squad. It is also a fact that we barely beat Iceland. I don't talk empty; there are two reasons why I continue to serve in the National Team. I am a person in love with the national jersey. I do it with pleasure. Secondly, I believe that if we can bring all our players here, we will win a medal."

"WE MADE HISTORY AT PANATHINAIKOS"

"What we did at Panathinaikos is not an easy feat. You go and make Barcelona play in the final... Panathinaikos finished last season in 17th place. Panathinaikos had 6 EuroLeague championships, but the Greek public says this season is historic. Two days after the EuroLeague championship, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis called and congratulated me. He told me, 'The atmosphere you created here has made a huge contribution to the brotherhood of the Turkish and Greek peoples.' This is a great source of pride for me."

"Sloukas made a very important decision at the beginning of the season. He left Olympiacos and came to Panathinaikos. While doing this, he kept telling me, 'I am here because I believe in you.' We were always rivals in the past. He is a very emotional player. At the beginning of the season, when things got difficult and I said 'It's not working,' he said, 'Coach, you brought me here. We will succeed together.'

After every match, he would say, 'Listen to the professor, he will make us champions.' I also have great respect for him. He was always a very good player, but I also gave him that freedom. Championships don't happen with 10 stars; they happen with the love in the locker room. We came back from the brink twice; they created a perception at Maccabi and brought fans into the stands. We fell behind 2-0 against Olympiacos in the Greek League..."

"WE DON'T HAVE A RONALDO"

"I trust our National Football Team. Let's think positively. We have a very young squad. Social media is very dangerous; the kids read everything. If we don't succeed, we will criticize. We lost to Portugal, but they have a player like Ronaldo. Do we have a Ronaldo? No. Arda is still new; hopefully, he will do it in the coming years."

-"Would Kendrick Nunn play for Turkey?"

Ergin Ataman: "We haven't had any contact. I think the public is probably thinking, 'Nunn is the best offensive player in the EuroLeague. He is Coach Ergin's player, would he make him play for the Turkish National Team?'. This is a subject beyond me. Also, of course, there could be other alternatives; this player doesn't necessarily have to play in Turkey."

"WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN MOTLEY"

"We have big clubs that don't invest, including the one I am a fan of. I always tell them; you have to invest, and it will come back as revenue. If you don't invest, sponsors won't come, and spectators won't come."

"We are not interested in Johnathan Motley. He is not on our list. Sometimes I read the news in the Turkish press too. We might have a very important transfer. Let the name stay with me."

News Source: 12punto