Chus Mateo: “It'll be a tough game but we're going into it with morale sky high”
"Defense is crucial if we want to beat Olympiacos," underlined Ndiaye ahead of the clash (Thursday, 8:45pm CET).
Chus Mateo and Ndiaye spoke to Realmadrid TV on the eve of their EuroLeague matchup with Olympiacos (Thursday, 8:45pm CET). The coach commented: "We're heading into the game with morale sky high. We're playing the competition leaders and they are in the mix at the top of the table year after year. It'll be a tough game against two of the top-scoring players in the tournament in Fournier and Vezenkov. They are an opponent who are well drilled defensively and in terms of their playing style, and they're coached by a true gentleman of the sport in Bartzokas, who's showing his style is worthy of champion status."
"Maccabi took the game to a lot of possessions, but they also had some unbelievable shooting percentages. We were able to match them and find an extraordinary points tally as well, it's an unprecedented score in a EuroLeague game that didn't go to overtime.”
“We have to stay focused on picking up points. Olympiacos are unlikely to allow us so much offensive license, so we'll have to do the same with them. We've crossed paths with them in recent years and managed to keep them out of the finals. They have top-level players and one in particular who we are very fond of here, in Williams-Goss."
Confidence
"Wins like the one over Maccabi definitely help you to feel mentally tougher and give you confidence. It's easier to build from victory than from defeat. This is the right path and it comes with continuing to pick up wins, and having players on side who help us to find these victories."
Ndiaye: "We're playing well and confidence is high"
"Olympiacos are in great form. We have to defend hard and make sure we're strong in both defense and offense from minute one. It'll be a tough game and defense is crucial if we want to beat them."
"We're playing well and we're on a good run of winning some very difficult games. That fills us with confidence in what is a tough season. We're getting into the swing of things, but we know the EuroLeague isn't at all easy. We want to win to be up near the top and in the fight."