Sergio Rodríguez: "It's an exciting challenge"

Sergio Rodríguez spoke to Realmadrid TV to analyse the current situation of the team in the opening weeks of the pre-season. The new basketball sporting director was very enthusiastic: "It's an exciting challenge, I'm facing it with great enthusiasm, with a huge level of commitment and a great desire to start."

"We've been working for several months, and seeing that the coaches and players have already joined the team gives you the feeling that we're getting closer and closer. I want a Real Madrid that competes, embodies the values of the club, takes responsibility for what it does and works every day to achieve its objectives, always looking towards victory and towards titles, which is in our DNA."

Knowing the club
"It's crucial to have been at this club before and to understand how it works; it's a big step at the beginning. Afterwards, my experience in the NBA and in Europe gives me a different vision, the one we want to apply."

The signings
"We're more than happy with the new additions. They bring youth, quality, and a great desire to be in this club. They complement the solid base of great talent that we already have very well, and we also have high hopes that the team, with the new additions, will work very well."

The Spanish Super Cup
"It's a tournament we know very well. This year we've started the pre-season a little earlier, so we'll have more time to work. There have been a lot of changes, and we'll have to get used to them, but we'll be ready. What's more, in a fantastic city like Málaga, and in a very special tournament."

Youth academy
"The youth academy has worked very well over the last few years. For us, the young ones should grow up watching the first team. And, apart from their development in the youth system itself, we want them to be close to us and for them to understand the day-to-day life of the first team so that it's also motivation for them. We also have La Liga U22, which we're very excited about, with games at a high level so that our players can develop better."

Connection with the fans
"The fans have been, are, and will be a fundamental pillar of all our successes. The communion at the Palacio is fantastic and we'll always try to be there for them, with improvements and to make the experience at the Movistar Arena attractive and to be able to continue on the path of all these years of success."

Committed
"Our commitment is always going to be there; we understand that it has to be like that. Always looking for victory and titles, but above all, the day-to-day work that we will put in, and we'll be ready."

Sergio Scariolo
"We're delighted with the arrival of Scariolo, one of the best coaches, with great international prestige and an impressive track record. He will bring us different things so that we can all work better. He also has a first-class staff that will help us in a competition with so many games, in which we also have to work individually with the players. We're very happy and looking forward to seeing him in action."