Chus Mateo: “We want to make a winning start”
“We have to show the energy that an away game against a newly promoted team requires,” said the coach.
Chus Mateo spoke to Realmadrid TV and looked ahead to Real Madrid’s opening game in the Liga ACB, which sees the Whites visit Leyma Coruña: “We're going to try to make a good start. We have to show the energy that an away game against a newly promoted team requires. It's going to be a good occasion for their fans. They're a team with a lot of tactical variations and they can cause you problems. We have to respect our opponents very much because that's the way to ensure we respect ourselves and our work.”
“Hopefully, we can start with a win on a court that won't be easy for anyone because of the spirit that the club transmits. We'll be reunited with Thompkins, if he's available to play. He's a player we're very fond of at this club.”
Hezonja’s absence
“He might not be available because he was unable to play in the Super Cup final because he had a high fever. He has lost six or seven kilos and now he has to work to get that back because he's been vomiting, had diarrhoea and high fever for a while. We'll try to work with him to get him back to full fitness as soon as possible.”
Liga ACB and EuroLeague
“We're ready. We're eager to tackle an always demanding schedule in two competitions that we know well and where we don't have to go overboard. We have to be patient, keep working every day, face each game with respect for our opponents and keep picking up victories like little ants. We know that the aim is to be as high up as possible in both competitions.”