Chus Mateo: "I'm pleased to be able to give back to this club everything it has given me"
"We fought until the end and we managed to win three games in a row against a team that is very difficult to beat," said the coach.
Chus Mateo lifted his second league title as Real Madrid coach. At the end of the third game of the final series against Valencia Basket, the coach had this to say: "We fought until the end and we managed to win three games in a row against a team that is very difficult to beat. I'm delighted for the boys because we've been knocked down a lot of times and being at Real Madrid is not easy because everyone wants to beat you and when you don't win, it feels like you haven't done your job. I'm pleased for the lads. They fought hard."
“Some players have been less visible in the daily work, like Ibaka or Rathan-Mayes, who have played less, but they have done an extraordinary job. It's not easy to be off the court, probably unfairly, because the coach doesn't give them that opportunity. I want to dedicate it to them."
On his continuation
“I'm not contemplating another option other than staying here. It will depend on whether Real Madrid want me to. I'm delighted to be at the best club in the world and I've always said so. It's been my club since I was a kid, where I started when I was 21, and I'm pleased to be able to give back to this club everything it has given me. In the three years I've been here, we've won six trophies and every season we've won one of the big prizes. I'm really pleased with what we're doing. It's down to them. If they want me to stay, I'll stay.”
Delight at 38th league title
“I enjoy basketball, but I suffer because all Real Madrid fans always aspire to the top and want us to give them joy. We feel responsible for that and when that happens, I feel relieved.”