Llull: “The team is confident and fired up for this Copa del Rey”
“UCAM Murcia are playing very well, it’ll be a tough game,” said the captain ahead of the quarter-final (Thursday, 6pm CET).
Llull was interviewed on Realmadrid TV ahead of the team’s trip to Malaga for the Copa del Rey and the captain had the following to say on the quarter-final tie which sees the Whites take on UCAM Murcia: “The Copa del Rey is really special. It's a tournament that brings together eight teams and their fans in one city over a long weekend, from Thursday to Sunday. It gives you the chance to win a trophy in four days. The team is in good shape and we're very confident and looking forward to this Copa del Rey.”
“The team started the season really well and that has given us the chance to lead in both competitions. We've performed very well, we're progressing very well, but we're aware that from now on the important things start to happen. The trophies will be decided and it's now when we want to start to perform at our best.”
His situation
“I'm feeling good, physically I've recovered from the slight discomfort in my foot and we hope I and the team will be in the best shape possible. Ultimately, the important thing is to win the trophy on Sunday and I think we all have to pull in the same direction to have a chance of reaching the final and celebrating a trophy with our fans.”
UCAM Murcia
“We've been drawn against a very tough opponent in the quarter-finals. Murcia are playing very well, they're a very physical team who lay a lot of traps in defence, they're very aggressive at the back. They beat us in the league on their home court and we have to be prepared for a very tough game. It'll be a very demanding 40 minutes. We're going to have to be at our best to get through to the semi-finals.”
Crucial moment of the season
“We know that we haven't achieved anything yet, there's still a long season ahead of us and from the Copa del Rey, the trophies will be decided. We've reached an important moment in the season and it's now when we have to perform at our best and be ready to face all the challenges that lie ahead.”
Memories from the Copa
“I've been lucky enough to win six Copa del Rey trophies and all of them have been special. The first one was great at the Palau Sant Jordi against the odds and by playing very well in that final. Then the one in Malaga in 2014 with that shot that enabled us to win the title. I would choose those two.”
Utmost motivation
“We're very motivated to win the Copa del Rey. We haven't won this trophy for four years and the team is really fired up. It's a special tournament, four days of pure adrenaline where you play without a safety net and if you lose you go home. We want to have a good tournament to reach the final on Sunday and try to win it.”
Message to the fans
“Hello madridistas. We promise you a lot of effort and sacrifice so we can try to go far in this Copa del Rey and celebrate another trophy with you.”