Abalde: "We want to continue in the line of the last game"
"Virtus is a dangerous team, with key players in various positions, and they play very much as a team," added the player.
Abalde spoke to Realmadrid TV ahead of the Real Madrid-Virtus Bologna game, corresponding to Round 30 of the EuroLeague (8:45 pm CEST, #Vamos). The player said: "This is a very important game. All the remaining games are super important for the final standings. Virtus Bologna is a team that has been performing well, achieved an important victory last week, and is dangerous, like all teams. We also played a good game last week at home, and we want to continue along that line. I think we are feeling comfortable at home, and we want to strengthen that."
The standings
"Obviously, it's always better to be on top, but I think it's important not to focus too much on the standings. This season is brutal: one or two wins can take you very high, but a couple of losses can drop you significantly. We have to go game by game—sorry for the cliché, but it's true, especially this year. Every team presents a different challenge, and we have to adapt and keep improving in our own game."
The Palacio
"Whenever we have been successful as a team, it's been when we have connected with the fans and felt their strong support. We are very clear that the first step to that connection, for the fans to vibe with us, is to show character and demonstrate the team we want to be. We know they will be there for us."
Virtus Bologna
"They are a dangerous team with key players in various positions. Above all, I would emphasize that, collectively, they defend well, run the court, and play well. There are some players who can deviate from the script, but overall, they play very much as a team. We need to be solid and consistent to try to prevent them from finding their rhythm. These are the pillars we want to establish: being strong defensively, controlling the rebounds, and, from there, finding our rhythm. Although it may sound general, this is where we want to place emphasis, beyond the specific challenges each opponent presents."
Defensive solidity
"We are clear that when we are able to lower the opponent's scoring, especially when I look at the scoreboard and see the other team under 80 points, we usually have a much higher chance of winning. For us, the defensive aspect is key."
Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.