Chus Mateo: “It was a game we had to win"

Chus Mateo spoke to the press following Real Madrid's match-up with Lenovo Tenerife at the WiZink Center. The coach explained: “It was a game we had to win, we really needed it at this moment in time. We put in a huge effort to get back into the game and overturned the deficit we had at the break. We weren't particularly good from three points. We did pretty well on the rebound but we have to keep working on those turnovers."

“Lenovo is a really dangerous team, they play great basketball and they beat Unicaja in their back yard in the Copa del Rey. The strength of the group is hugely important. I'm not worried about what each player does on an individual level, but I'm pleased to see us look strong as a unit. It's also crucial we can ride this spell out and head into the upcoming games in the best possible shape. We're obliged to win at the beginning, middle and end because that's what this club demands."

Confidence and demands
“The last thing I'll ever see in this team is a lack of confidence. Not long ago we had international breaks where eight of our players were away. We have to find a way to play well and ensure we're fresh."

Great defensive efforts
“Causeur has played incredibly well in defense, just like Abalde. They were up against Guy and they did a fantastic job. I'd like to pick out Hezonja as well, who responded to Doornekamp with some superb shooting. All the guys on the outside played unbelievably well."