Ettore Messina: No one expected such a success from us after the first two games

The game against Partizan was the last one for CSKA in the first round of Euroleague regular season. CSKA head coach Ettore Messina made a short summary at the press conference:

- I think we made the game easy for us with the very good approach in the first minutes. One of the main reasons of success was a great defense play by Panov, who actually ‘cancelled' Partizan leader Dejan Milojevic. His average scoring level is 16 points per game. But in Moscow he brought to his club only 6. My players worked well together. Even with few mistakes, they sometimes made our fans go out of their minds with some fast brakes and dunks. We finished the first part of Euroleague regular season with 5-2 record. But remember – after first two games you weren’t sure that we managed to do this. We will have a very hard January. For example, we’ll meet PAO at home. But the team continues to grow up. I’m glad to notice a progress of two players – Papaloukas and Vanterpool. It was tough for Theo to find his play after Euro, but right now he is becoming the same person he was in previous seasons. And David is close to a player he was at Montepaschi. It wasn’t easy for him after such a serious injury.

- Are you satisfied with the level of play of CSKA youngsters?

- They take every game as an exam. So it is difficult for them to be calm on court and show all they can – a psychological pressure is too heavy.

- What is the reason of such a low free-throw percentage?

- That game didn’t have the same emotional level as the previous one against Dynamo. And it is impossible for any team to have the permanent emotional level in every match. We just needed to be serious tonight. It wasn’t a secret for anyone – CSKA is a better side than Partizan. So it was difficult for the players to be motivated during all the 40 minutes. But we must learn how to win such games.

Partizan head coach Dusko Vujosevic:

- CSKA completely deserved this win and they deserved the win with such an advantage. If you compare the squads, you will easily find out that Army club is a twenty times stronger team than Partizan. CSKA played with the real energy and desire. But, unfortunately, I can’t say that about my guys. I want to congratulate Moscow club players; they were great on both defensive and offensive ends. Besides we simply couldn’t stop CSKA fast breaks.