Linas Kleiza: 'Obradovic's authority is very high. I want to win TBL'

Fenerbahce forward Linas Kleiza talked with Lrytas.lt about his season with the Turkish powerhouse, his relation with coach Zeljko Obradovic and his future with Lithuanian National Team.

Full interview has been translated by Simas Baranauskas on Twitter.

Kleiza: "Turkey is a peculiar country, the league is too. Different from what I've faced, but I don't want to go into details." - lrytas.lt

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Results aren't always determined by basketball alone, there are a lot of other factors. It's incredibly hard to win on the road."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "I'm happy with our fans. They supported us all season and I believe they will in the future too. We have things to fight for."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "We're all disappointed – fans, myself, coach, management – but no one's summoned us to the office. We talked, but that's internal."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Management isnt interfering w/ the game. Coach's authority is very high. Doesn't allow anything to interrupt our practice & games."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "There's no tension [with the coach]. Only his word matters. We understand that and there are no problems about that."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Only troubles we've had is executing [coach's] plans on the court. There are no conflicts. We're at fault for not executing."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "I won't deny it, we're all a bit afraid of Obradovic, because he demands a lot and is very strict. He demands it here and now."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: 'However, [coach Obradovic] is one of those coaches who cares about the players not only on the court, but outside it too."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Season hasn't been easy neither for us, neither for Obradovic. We're inconsistent, have problems, so there's some nerves somtimes."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Fenerbahce is a rich club. There were a lot of hopes. When you can't deliver, bad things start to come out."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Not everything is lost. We have to win the Turkish league and we can [evaluate the season]."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "I've been inconsistent because of the same reasons like the whole team – we don't always understand each other and play as a team."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "We lack a person, who would glue us all together on the court."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "We started the season rather well, but we became a selfish team and that started to become visible on the court too." #Fenerbahce

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Most important part of the season is ahead: we didn't make EL QR, but we ain't done. I'm hungry for trophies & want to win TBL."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza about two-game suspension after game vs Gala: "It wasn't as dramatic as it seems. I spoke with referee after the game, not during."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "They have their own rules in Turkey. The referee said something and I was suspended. I was shocked."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "It wasn't the first, second, third or even fourth time I spoke with that referee, but I was only punished that time."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "I try to handle myself, because the referees are 'hunting' me after that incident. I'm like a target, so I have to control myself."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Playing in Turkey is calmer than in Greece. But we're getting plenty of attention here, too."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Being a foreigner can be useful: you don't understand the language, don't read the press, don't know what's being said about you."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "National team has always been important. I played whenever I could. I'll make decision about World Cup after consulting doctors."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Decision [about NT] will depend on doctors, not me. I'm not young & have to consider how I should spend the summer to be in shape."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "After that injury [in 2011] doctors have told me to consider taking summers off, but I played in NT. It's always in my heart."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "Not playing in NT would be a hard decision to make. But I haven't made it. That's what I told Sabonis & Spokas when they visited."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014

Kleiza: "I've never played in Lithuania but what's happening in LKL is really interesting. Semi [Rytas v Zalgiris] will be interesting."

— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) 5 Maggio 2014