Former Partizan coach Željko Obradović stated today that he stood by his decision to take responsibility for the poor results this season, and added that the decision to no longer be the coach of the black and whites was very difficult.
"This was an extremely difficult step for me, I took responsibility for everything bad that happened this season and of course I stand by that decision. I have received countless messages and the reason I am reaching out is to clarify everything," Obradović said.
Obradović resigned as coach of the black and whites last Wednesday after the loss to Panathinaikos in Athens in the Euroleague.
"The decision was difficult, and everything that happened after that, I could not influence. I don't know if the story we wrote will be repeated, but that depends solely on you, the Partizan fans who created an atmosphere that is recognized worldwide. You are Partizan's greatest strength. Even in the family, when something happens, it's best for it to stay in the family," said Obradović.
He also said that everything he stated in the statement when he submitted his resignation on Wednesday still stands today.
"On Tuesday evening, after a difficult game for me, I told the coaching staff that I was making a decision that was good for the club and the team. I communicated that decision to the club president the next morning and he understood. The conversation was very fair. He said that he had already realized during the game that this was the only thing I could do," said Obradović.
"We agreed that I would address the public, not the club, but it is difficult to control information. The club president asked me to add in that letter that it was an irrevocable resignation and that it would be easier for him to come out to the fans with it, and I agreed with that and I knew that it was a decision I stood behind," Obradović added.
He also said that when he returned from Athens, he realized that he couldn't do it anymore and that he had "no more strength left in him", and that he gave the players three days off, and that the management had time to do what "they thought was best".
"I gave it my all, don't hold it against me. The decision was very stressful, and I probably had the hardest moments in my life when you waited for me, when my little girl who waits for me every time she comes to the Arena cut me off. The emotions I experienced then, I have never and now find it very difficult to talk about. My friend brought me to the apartment, I lay down in bed and stared at the ceiling for an hour. I didn't want all of that to happen, but the fans decided to try to do something. A few minutes after my resignation, the president thanked me," Obradović said.
He said that after that "some" things started happening.
"I received a message from the club president that my resignation was not accepted by the Board of Directors. He invited me to come to the club, I accepted because these are the people I worked with. The meeting was with people who work at the club, people who are very dear to me. The president started by saying that everyone agreed that they did not want me to resign. In my address, I said that I stand by my decision, but that I was now surprised and I asked the president what had changed since the moment he went public and accepted my resignation. What had changed in 24 hours," said Obradović.
Obradović said that what changed was the "reaction of fans", who welcomed Obradović in large numbers at the airport upon his return from Athens.
"I have thought about this decision carefully and I stand behind it. I ask the fans to be united, to cheer on the players, all the people in the club, in every next game. This situation is not normal and is not good for the club. The club's first man, Ostoja Mijailović, bears responsibility for this situation and I told him that. People from the assembly called me to say that they left the club, that is also not good. We do not want any situations to arise where the Euroleague punishes us. We brought Partizan back to the Euroleague, no one can take that away from us, that was my dream," said Obradović.
Obradović also said that "some things were not normal in the functioning of the club," and added that he was talking about everything solely for the fans.
"At my insistence, I spoke to sports director Zoran Savić every day during the transfer window, and I was surprised when I received information that Brandon Davis was leaving the club and that Osetkovski should sign, even though I told the president that he was not a player for us at that moment, he told me that we had already signed him. Osetkovski was not my signing, but we are talking about a guy who was extremely hardworking. He worked and behaved like a true professional, but to be honest, it was not my decision," Obradović said.
He also said that he supported the idea of the black and whites traveling to Australia for a pre-season tour, but that several players suffered injuries during that tour.
"We played with only one tall player. At that time, I said that Zoran (Savić) could not work without a contract. I said that he did not understand the situation we were in, that such a relationship was not normal. That Zoran could not work without a contract. I wanted to bring in a top five player before the season started. I also begged to leave Ajze Majko, but we did not succeed in that. In the end, Bruno (Fernando) came, but in order to bring in Bruno, we had to fire Frank Nilikina. A delicate decision, but we had to bring in a tall player, and then Shake (Milton) and Karlik (Jones), two extraordinary players and men, got injured. It is an extremely difficult situation, we were looking for solutions...", he said.
"At the beginning of the Euroleague, when we were away in Dubai in the first round, and considering that we were returning immediately for the match against Milan, I asked for a charter, and I got the answer that the club had no money, and there was talk of a big budget... It's not logical. There, I asked the club to make a charter for the fans to go too, to even it out, but that didn't work either," he said. "Then I asked for business class for the players, they said there was no business class, and when we got in, we saw that there was business class. That's why I talked about it at a press conference and then the club president spoke to me and sarcastically said "thank you for your support". I really didn't know at that moment that the fans were against the club president. I immediately called the fans to unite at the next game. No one should be offended. I called the club president after that message and he never called me back. From that moment on, we have had no relationship," Obradović said.
He said that the next time he spoke to the club president was when the injury crisis occurred, so a meeting was scheduled at the club, and that that was the only communication.
"After the match with Fenerbahçe, the president asked us why the team looks the way it does. I explained the reasons to him and said that it would be very good if he called the players one by one and heard their opinion. I will never attack the players, everything I had to say to them, I said to their faces. What I did and how I worked with the players is between us and them," said Obradović.
Obradović thanked the players who contacted him in recent days.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who called me, former and current players, who thanked me for my cooperation and support in these difficult times. The club can only function in a way where everyone is as one. Unfortunately, we did not have that this season. I had some disagreements with the club president before, as he said in his interview, but we did everything for Partizan," said Obradović.
Obradović also said that he "begged" President Mijailović that the club must "have someone" who would react when attacks on the club occur.
"I begged him a few years ago, when there were terrible attacks on both of us and Partizan, that the club must react and have someone who will deal with it. To stand in the way of the lies that were being spread about us. I did not receive support and I think that was a big mistake. I was going through a lot of things, you all know that I am someone who is exclusively dedicated to what my job is, which is the field," he said. "Unfortunately, at Partizan I had the burden that my work was not only on the field. I had to deal with many other things. Believe me, if I had had such a situation in some other clubs where I worked, I would have left them much earlier. But this time I could not because of Partizan. That is my greatest love, that is what I wanted to live. Thank you for living this for four and a half years, because it is something wonderful," Obradović concluded.
He emphasized that he would like this not to be his final farewell to Partizan.
"I repeat, you (fans) are the strength of Partizan. Never be absent from Partizan. I promise that I will always be there for you. I hope and wish that this is not the last time I am at Partizan. In some other circumstances, better times... and, will they come, we hope so... I want to thank once again everyone I have collaborated with, all the players, people from the club, sponsors, members of the board of directors, who have resigned, I ask them not to do so, they have woven themselves into this fantastic story," said Obradović.
"A man has the only thing that matters to him, and that is honor and face. I have always been direct and I hope that this address of mine will have a positive impact on you, who are the most important, and that you will do everything to make Partizan what it was, what you made it. Thank you once again, everyone," said Obradović.
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