Chus Mateo: “We're on a good run at home and we want to keep it going”
"We're looking forward to playing in the Euroleague again at the WiZink Center", explained Sergio Rodríguez in the build-up to the game against Panathinaikos.
Chus Mateo and Sergio Rodríguez discussed the Real Madrid-Panathinaikos EuroLeague round 27 game, to be held at the WiZink Center this Thursday (8.45pm CET). The coach said of the game: "The most important thing is to remain focused. Everyone is coming off the back of a different week. Some have been away with their national team and we have to stay focused for 40 minutes against a team that's getting better and better. They're a side that push you to the limit and they're playing better as a team. Their position in the table reflects their improvement. We have to forget about last week, the Copa del Rey, and focus on the Euroleague, which needs our full focus mentally".
"Playing in the Euroleague in front of our fans again is one of the things that motivates us the most, it brings us together and makes us want to give them something else to cheer about. We're on a good run at home and would like to sustain the excitement that people have to see us play at home".
Qualifying for the playoffs
"If we win, then it's certainly a reward. But if we don't, we'll keep going about our work. We're only focused on the short term and we know that the journey is made one step at a time. We're confident due to our position in the table but we can't let things slip and we have to continue to do things well".
"The Copa del Rey is in the past now. It's there and it's ours, but it doesn't count anymore. We've done well in the early part of the season because we worked a step at a time. The team never loses its hunger and it's not going to lose it now. We're now looking forward to the next objectives and we're going to fight for them. The first one is to secure the Euroleague playoffs spot".
Does winning the Copa del Rey give you more peace of mind?
"Winning the Copa del Rey gives you the satisfaction of having done your job. It brings more joy than peace of mind. We really wanted to win it. We played good basketball on the whole. The pressure is on us because of the badge we represent and the fans we have behind us".
Opponents
"They're a very experienced team with top quality players. They're improving and the coach is doing a great job. They're a team that will compete for the playoffs and to be in the Final Four".
Sergio Rodríguez: "We're having a very good season"
"Panathinaikos are a very talented team, they're having a good season. They've got players who've joined them and who're proving to be important for them. It is also a slightly different game due of the fact that we're coming from a break after the Copa del Rey and the windows".
Return to the Euroleague
"It's important to be back in good form and we're looking forward to playing at the WiZink Center again. We've got to carry on in the same vein. We won the Copa del Rey and we're approaching this second half with a different feeling. We've got a lot of depth in the team and we've been showing that throughout the year with the timetable we've had".
Mentality
"We're having a very good season, winning, playing good basketball and having fun. That obviously helps. But we're aware that it's a very long season and we'll come up against a period of a lot of pressure and tension; we have to be fresh physically and in our heads. We're here to compete for every trophy".