Chus Mateo: “We're doing a very good job mentally”
“Being together and contributing is what keeps us going forward and that's the path we have to follow,” said Hugo González ahead of the clash against Maccabi.
Chus Mateo and Hugo González spoke ahead of the Real Madrid-Maccabi clash, on matchday 21 of the EuroLeague (Tuesday, 8.45 pm CET). The coach discussed his team’s superb form ahead of the game at the Movistar Arena: “One thing that is helping us is that we are developing a team mentality, a tough mentality, and the ability to overcome adversity at important moments. We didn't start well in the last few games and we've come back and turned them around, but also with everyone contributing. That's the mentality.”
“We have to take care of ourselves physically, not to overburden the team now because we have to give 120% in the matches. We won't always play well but we have to be ready to win. We're doing a very good job mentally. We have to know how to identify our opponents' strengths”
Maccabi
“Physically, they're an extraordinary team and one of their biggest threats is rebounding. They're an unpredictable team. The standings don't reflect the level they're playing at. We lost there by one point and want to make up for that defeat.”
Double header
“We don't see it as a double header. We have Maccabi, which is one game. It's worth focusing on what's ahead of us. Getting distracted by opponents other than the one we're playing only underestimates an opponent who deserve all our respect.”
Hugo González: “All the games in the EuroLeague are crucial”
“All the games in the EuroLeague are crucial, even more so against two teams that we couldn't beat in the first round. These are two teams we have to beat. In Belgrade, we lost by one point and our goal is to achieve the basket average and win the basket average because of what could happen later on.”
“Being together and contributing is what keeps us going forward and that's the path we have to follow. We've just come from a slightly unusual week in which we've played four games. We're facing this one positively, focused and consistent in our work because it's what the calendar requires.”