Chus Mateo, head coach of Real Madrid, spoke to the media ahead of the Game 3 of the quarterfinal series against Baskonia.
“Fernando Buesa Arena is one of the most complex courts in Europe as a visitor, aside from the influx, the fans are very close to their team, they cheer a lot and put pressure on the opponent. We face it as if it were 0-0, the court is complicated, and Baskonia has many offensive resources and easily reaches 100 points because the number of possessions in their games is very high. There should be minimal relaxation, that’s all I can ask of the guys, to be very concentrated, to forget about the scoreboard and the past” stated Chus Mateo.
Sensation?
“I appreciate it a little bit before the games, the sensations are very nice, but then we have to see if we are ready on the court. We have the whole team, physically we are doing well, the loads are what we wanted to give to get to this point, I think we measured it well, but it’s the game, and each one is a different story, although we have a good dynamic ahead of us in the playoffs. We came with good feelings, although then we have to confirm them on the court” stated Chus Mateo.
Qualification plan
It turned out as we thought it could, we did a good job, not only because of the game plan, but also because of the attitude we show and the players’ mentality. They are the ones who execute the plans, because all the coach’s plans are winning ones. We know we are facing a team with a lot of offensive resources, and obviously we have to improve certain things: defensive balance, which is important to me and more in their field.
We must continue to lose a few balls because they punish that very well, don’t give up points on rebounds because they also punish that very well by scoring; and be able to focus one by one as we do, even with a little more demand so that everyone is involved. We are a team that knows it has to defend together, with players who have more shortcomings defensively than others, and that we have to protect them. The team has to be careful about that, I want players who pay attention, who know that it’s hard to beat us with all our senses on the court.
Keys to leveling the series
“The history of the playoffs is very long. Last year we turned around a very unfavorable situation because we were also playing away, and that’s not the same. It happened for the first time in the EuroLeague, and we are proud of that turning point, but every playoff is a story, and, thank God, we have something to give and take.
We left Madrid 1-1 and solved it away 3-1 (against Darussafaka in 2017), we went 0-2 and won (last year against Partizan), we started 2-0 and it was the fifth game (in 2014 with Olympiacos). We’ve seen it all. Specifically, I don’t trust things, I try to be cautious and convey that alarm to the players, but also a lot of confidence because we are careful, with the state of readiness we have to show in the playoffs” said Mateo.
“Mental strength is key”
“I have to be prepared for everything that can happen, for every tactical change, although there are many things you can’t predict and that can surprise you, but vigilance is important. Last year in Belgrade, we started losing by 15 points in the third game and we could have continued, got back into the game. Mental strength is key, you have to come to the end with chances of winning even if they start with a bang.
There is nothing in my head that would suggest 3-0, just that there is a game to play. We forgot that we have 2-0 and we only think about tomorrow, whatever comes next, whatever it is, we will solve it. I don’t make any assumptions.”
Markus Howard
“Howard is an outstanding player, surely one of the best we’ve seen lately in our league and in the EuroLeague, and he will shoot because he always creates for himself. It is important to be consistent and not lower your head when he shoots because sometimes you say it’s impossible for him to make it, but he does. It’s important not to give up, always be there. He scores 35 and we win, welcome. It is important not to lose focus on what is important as a team: rebounding, defensive balance, one-on-one, etc.” concluded Chus Mateo.
EuroLeague Game 3 between Real Madrid and Baskonia will take place on Wednesday at 8:45 PM.