Chus Mateo: “There are six games left in the Regular Season and we'll try to secure first place”
“We need to get back to winning ways and regain confidence at home,” said the coach.
Chus Mateo spoke to Realmadrid TV the day before his side’s Liga ACB clash against Joventut and the coach analysed the game ahead, which will be played at the WiZink Center (Sunday, 6:30pm CEST): “They've changed coach and that's a factor to take into account. Regardless of how they come into it or who their opponents are, I think we haven't played well at home recently and we need to get back to winning ways and regain confidence at home. We are approaching a time when we have to be ready. It doesn't mean we have to be ready right now, but from the EuroLeague playoffs onwards we have to be ready for the toughest moment of the season. So for us it's a very important game.”
“Tomorrow, we have to make sure we defend well in the paint because they're a team that score a lot on the inside, and also have very capable players from the perimeter. They're a very complete team and they have a good mix of youth and experience that helps them, with the freshness of youth and the veterans’ knowledge of the game.”
Intensity in training
“We don't have much time left to train because soon we'll have to be playing practically every day. It's important to have competitive training sessions like the ones we have and that will help us to do better and better in the future. Hopefully we'll soon get back to a level where we all feel confident.”
The home straight
“There's still a lot to do because there are six games left, the playoffs, a final in the Liga Endesa where all the Spanish teams in European competitions are performing at their best possible level. They're playing really well, so it's a really tough competition. There are six games left in the Regular Season where we'll try to secure first place, and if we can't, we'll try to get second place. The highest possible position. The playoffs aren't going to be easy, whether you're first, second or third, it doesn't matter. It's really tough and we'll have to be ready for it.”