Chus Mateo: “When there's a trophy on the line, I know how this team reacts"
“We know what kind of game we're in for, but we're going to try and do a good job and give it 100%,” said the coach.
Chus Mateo spoke to the press ahead of today's Super Cup final match-up with Unicaja at Murcia's Palacio de los Deportes (8:00pm CEST): “When there's a trophy on the line, I know how this team reacts and when we've had to show that ambition we tend to have in finals, we've been able to do so, and our hunger has taken us to win games."
“We don't think about the past, we focus on the present and we're in the final. We won't be counting trophies until we've won them. What happened in the past no longer exists, it's all about this evening and that's what I emphasise to my players. It's a case of doing things right and giving 100%. That's our philosophy."
First final without Rudy or Sergio Rodríguez
“We lose that pre-match work with the new guys, because they would explain what this club means, what it is to wear this jersey and show the crest on your chest. That's hugely important to us. We feel very strongly identified with the club we represent. From the coach to the players, we all feel proud to wear the white jersey and defend our club's colours. Losing those players who could transmit those ideas year after year means others have to step into that role now, guys like Campazzo. Between Llull, who is our captain, and the other team captains, the more experienced guys, and the coach, we'll all have to make sure the new lads understand it.”
Unicaja
“They're a fantastic team, I always say so. They have had a few really impressive seasons, they've just won the Intercontinental Cup and they're always high up in the table. We know the kind of game we're in for. They've been together for a very long time and have a consistent spine of players.”