Interview
02/01/2012
Sergio Llull: "I want to help the team win titles"
"We will look to earn a victory against Barcelona to mathematically make it to the Copa del Rey"
Realmadrid.com / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
Sergio Llull analysed the Real Madrid's run so far, his role on the team and the forthcoming Clasico against Barcelona.
The year has just started and I guess you recently spent some time with your family. How do you celebrate the holiday season?
I spent Christmas Eve in Menorca with my family and friends. The family has dinner together and lunch on Christmas, but we don’t do anything special. We don’t sing; we do that with friends. I spent New Year’s Eve in Madrid, but I also had fun.
The league started only three months ago. What do you think of the team?
I believe the balance so far is good. We did lose to teams we should have defeated, such as Estudiantes and Joventut, but I think we’re doing a good job in the Euroleague. We’re in a complicated Top 16 group, but we’re excited about the start of the New Year.
Have you made any resolutions?
My goal is to continue improving as a player. I am 24 years old and really want to do well and continue improving to help the team win a title.
The year has a strong start, with a Clasico on 4 January…
It’s not a bad start. We’re lucky to play it at home, at the Palacio de los Deportes, which I’m sure will be packed. We’ll try to have a good start to the year with a victory that makes us leaders.
It’s important to play an intense game from the start…
We have to set our own pace to the game and, above all else, defend strongly and grab most rebounds against a powerful side like Barcelona. We’ll have to cover a lot of ground, make fast transitions and try to play our own game.
It’s all about showcasing your own style and counterattacking…
Yes, we’ll have to be strong in defence. Barcelona have very talented players and it will be important to defend in one-on-ones. We have to dominate under the iron and counterattack.
The team has a fast and impulsive style this year… It is very much like your own personal style.
That’s the style I like and I also think it helps me physically.
But it’s a double edged knife, because it sometimes helps the team and hinders it at others due to the great intensity of its game…
Yes, it’s obvious we have to control our style. We must know how to pause the game and avoid craziness.
You are good at that despite having played as a shooting guard the last few years. You’ve been a clear point guard this season from the very first day.
I spoke about it with Pablo Laso from the very start. I feel comfortable as a point guard. I told him I just wanted to play and that I didn’t mind if it was as a number ‘1’ or ‘2’… I think I’m doing a good job for now and it’s obvious I can improve on small details; nobody’s perfect. Everything has its advantages and inconveniences. As a number ‘2’ you can cover a lot of ground, move back before the rest, attempt more shots… As a point guard you have to make the team play and know who’s more into the game in each effort.
You’ll all be fit to play, while Barcelona will miss Navarro and maybe even Lorbek, who was injured in their last game.
That’s right. We wish we all avoid injuries this year. We still don’t know if Lorbek will play or not, and it seems Navarro’s absence has been confirmed. They are very important players, but they are a quality team and we cannot afford to relax against them.
You’re just one victory away from making it to the Copa del Rey.
We’re going to try to earn it on Wednesday and mathematically make it to the championship in order to avoid any unwelcome surprises.
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