Alex Mumbru, the head coach of Valencia, spoke after the ninth-round EuroLeague match in which his team visited Barcelona.
Valencia lost their second consecutive match against a Spanish rival in a close finish. First against Real at home and then against Barcelona away with a score of 74:70.
“We were good in many moments, but we lacked a bit of lucidity in the last three minutes near the basket to put Barcelona in even more trouble,” said Alex Mumbru.
Mumbru drew positive conclusions from the match:
“The reaction in the second quarter, after defending well despite losses, competing well in many good moments at Palau Blaugrana… I am satisfied with the team’s fight, but frustrated with the loss.
We didn’t start at the level we wanted, but in the second quarter, we improved our defense and a bit in the offense. The last two quarters were the same for both teams, good defense. And in the last three minutes, we managed not to make the best decisions in attack.”
The head coach of Valencia admitted that the absences of Jared Harper and Kassius Robertson were “noticed.”
“We knew it would be a complicated week. First against Madrid, then here against Barca, and we will finish the week in Vitoria. We have to progress, and we are not even halfway through the season, but we are competing,” Mumbru concluded.