Chus Mateo: “We have to keep working hard because the second game will be tough”
“We got an important point in the playoffs, but we can't take our foot off the accelerator,” said the coach before the second Clásico match.
Chus Mateo spoke in the build-up to the second Liga Endesa semi-final clash against Barcelona at the WiZink Center: “The league motivates us enormously. It's a very big prize. Hopefully we can win it but we have to keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard to win the second game, which will be very tough. I'm convinced that if we get the same support we got yesterday from our fans, which was incredible, it'll be easier for sure.”
“When a team of Barcelona's stature concedes a points difference like yesterday, they'll be unhappy. We can't take our foot off the accelerator. We don't have any advantage, we have to go out from the first minute knowing that it's a different game and not just think that we've won the first one. It's an important point in the playoffs but that's all. We haven't finished the job and we have to do that.”
Atmosphere in the first clash
“The WiZink is incredible as we saw it yesterday. Yesterday we needed their support, their warmth and their affection and we had it from the beginning to the end. We're playing against Barcelona on a Friday evening, and what better thing to do than to come and cheer on your team. Let's hope we continue in the same vein and I'm convinced that the fans are going to continue like this.”