Chus Mateo: "We have to keep up our level for as long as necessary to win the title"

Chus Mateo appeared at a press conference at the Real Madrid City pavilion the day before the game against Valencia Basket, the third in the Liga Endesa final, which will be played at the Fuente de San Luis Pavilion (Wednesday, 9:15pm CEST). The coach explained: "You always have to pay close attention. In a playoff, there's always room for surprises. What we can't do is think about what happened in the other two games. We have to be alert to everything that might happen. A basketball game can go in many different directions. You often don't expect what's going to happen, even if you watch a thousand videos. You have to be alert and react. Hopefully, the result will always be the same and not go the other way, but we have to be prepared."
We tried to stop those three-pointers the other day, but Valencia has been playing very well all year. They play at that pace, trying to get more possession, playing a lot with the three-point line... Every team tries to exploit its strengths, and that's one of Valencia's. They're going to keep scoring, but we're doing a good job defensively overall. That work has to be reflected throughout the game. The fact that they score 18 three-pointers but you win the game also gives me some confidence and assurance in what we're doing. We're on track with what we want, which is to maintain our strength. Throughout the year, it's been our cohesion and defensive solidity that have paid off."

How do you see Llull?
"It's not that I think he looks good right now, he's had an extraordinary year. We have a maximum of three games left, and so far, the level he has shown has always given us a lot. Not only does he do it from a technical and tactical point of view, but he also knows that I often need him in other areas that are not so visible but are very important for the team. You can't be on top form every day, and the other day, when he didn't play very well, he scored a basket that was crucial for us. I always want him on my side."

Biggest concerns
"We think about it a lot, but I'm very calm because I see the team with a lot of cohesion and a lot of desire to grit their teeth. Things have been difficult for us at times during the year, and we've been able to get back into games. Even when the opponent was ahead, we gritted our teeth and came back. That's one of the things that gives me confidence. Hopefully, we can keep up this effort and maintain it for as long as it takes to win the title. We're fighting for it and showing a lot of hunger."

Feelings during the game
"During the games, I have a terrible time, I suffer a lot. I only enjoy myself when we end up winning. I have a way of being that often makes me suffer. During the game, not as much as before playing it. I'm very aware and perhaps have an excessive sense of responsibility and want to please everyone. But when it's over, I enjoy it very much. I know that there are a lot of people behind us who suffer with us. The Movistar Arena has been cheering us on in the bad times. I would really like to bring some joy to the people who have cheered us on in the bad times. That's what makes me feel most responsible."

Garuba
"His defensive skills are very important; it's one of his strengths. Garuba is performing at an extraordinary level in this final phase of the Liga. We were unlucky that he was out for three months at the beginning with an injury. Thank God he's getting better. Even though he's probably not 100%, you can see when he's on the court that we raise the bar defensively. I hope he keeps up this focus because he's a key player for us."

Good level from Campazzo
’It's a relief because he's struggled all year to find this level of play. It's been a year where he hasn't been himself and has been fighting to get there. We were patient with him because we knew what he's given us. He's been MVP in four of the last competitions. He's a brilliant player and makes a difference in equal measure. But on top of that, his competitive nature helps us a lot to understand where the game is going. He's so eager and transmits so much to his teammates that it's very easy for me to get people on board. He's also found in Feliz someone he really clicks with. Both of them are in extraordinary form at the moment. That's another reason I feel very confident. The fact that the three point guards are working so well together helps me feel much calmer. I'm happy for him, for finding this level right at the end. I'm sure he'll play a great game tomorrow."

Refereeing decisions
"I don't like to talk about referees. You know I never talk about them, whether things are going well or badly. It puts the focus on something that shouldn't distract us. We try to think about playing basketball and playing as well as possible. External factors that can influence the game, such as the atmosphere, injuries, the schedule, fatigue or referees, shouldn't worry us too much. It's just another factor. We try to focus on what we're doing. I don't like to talk about this."