Chus Mateo: “I'm so proud, this team never gives up”
'We stuck together and always believed that we could win', said the coach.
After the heroic win in the Euroleague final against Olympiacos, Chus Mateo spoke in the press room of the Zalgirio Arena: 'We've had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. It's been a very difficult season but the ending has been incredible thanks to the Euroleague. I'm really proud of the team's spirit because they've stayed together, they've always believed they could win and they've never thrown the towel in.'
'When we had a bad situation such as injuries or bad defeats, the team has been more united than ever. We fought hard and stuck together and stayed alive until the end. Also in the last game, we have been able to beat a great Olympiacos team with a shot from Llull in the final seconds. I'd like to say congratulations to Olympiacos because they have had a terrific season'.
Fight until the end
'I'm happy for my whole team, who have fought since the beginning of the season, day after day. I have the greatest respect for the players. The team has overcome injuries, problems and all kinds of adverse situations'.
'After we were 0-2 in the playoffs, we came back. We then beat Barcelona in the semifinals and the final today. I have the utmost respect for my players because they deserve this and they never give up. I'm very happy and very proud of them. I'm behind all the players all the way. We're champions because of them'.
How much does this win mean to you?
'I've tried to be stay focused on my job. You're always under the magnifying glass of what people outside the club have to say due to the responsibility that comes with being Real Madrid's coach. A lot of people have their opinion and that's their right. It's part of my job and I take all the criticism, it's part of the game'.
'When we had a bad situation such as injuries or bad defeats, the team has been more united than ever. We fought hard and stuck together and stayed alive until the end. Also in the last game, we have been able to beat a great Olympiacos team with a shot from Llull in the final seconds. I'd like to say congratulations to Olympiacos because they have had a terrific season'.
Fight until the end
'I'm happy for my whole team, who have fought since the beginning of the season, day after day. I have the greatest respect for the players. The team has overcome injuries, problems and all kinds of adverse situations'.
'After we were 0-2 in the playoffs, we came back. We then beat Barcelona in the semifinals and the final today. I have the utmost respect for my players because they deserve this and they never give up. I'm very happy and very proud of them. I'm behind all the players all the way. We're champions because of them'.
How much does this win mean to you?
'I've tried to be stay focused on my job. You're always under the magnifying glass of what people outside the club have to say due to the responsibility that comes with being Real Madrid's coach. A lot of people have their opinion and that's their right. It's part of my job and I take all the criticism, it's part of the game'.
'I'm happy because we won. A lucky shot today makes us the champions. It's us and it's like a fairy tale with Llull scoring the last basket. His only two points. The whole team did an excellent job, especially at the end. I've been lucky and fortunate to have a group that's always stayed together and that's the most important thing for me'.
Last timeout and Llull's basket
'There is no one else who scores those baskets more than he does. If anyone can take that ball and make it, it's him. There was no doubt. He doesn't mind taking that responsibility on. He hadn't made a basket, but he got the winning basket. I'm particularly happy for him because it hasn't been an easy year with the injury and difficult times when he's played less.'
'Llull always helps the team to improve. He's done it again, he's won again and has given us one more European Cup. Everyone, Sergio Rodríguez has also been magnificent, Tavares, Hezonja...I can't praise them enough for the faith they've had'.
Praise from Tavares
'It's wonderful to hear what Tavares thinks of you. I feel like I've won two trophies with those words. We've kept the team together, as a family. We kept believing in each other, we had a very difficult journey and we fought until the end. He's a great person and I'm very happy for him too'.
Words for the veterans
'They know what their job is very well and if we've done something well it's been protecting Tavares because he has to play 35 minutes every game. The veterans know how to protect themselves too. Sergio Rodriguez played more than I expected, but he did great. He was fresh'.
Sergio Rodriguez
'He's arrived just at the right time. At 37 years of age, he came in fresh and with the magic he's always had. People might think that he wasn't playing a lot, but in the end we understood who the point guards were and who could accompany the point guard. Sergio Rodriguez was fresh and magical thanks too to the fact that he played very little at the beginning of the season. When the time came, we had Sergio Rodriguez and Williams-Goss at point guard and Hanga and Llull helping out'.
Last timeout and Llull's basket
'There is no one else who scores those baskets more than he does. If anyone can take that ball and make it, it's him. There was no doubt. He doesn't mind taking that responsibility on. He hadn't made a basket, but he got the winning basket. I'm particularly happy for him because it hasn't been an easy year with the injury and difficult times when he's played less.'
'Llull always helps the team to improve. He's done it again, he's won again and has given us one more European Cup. Everyone, Sergio Rodríguez has also been magnificent, Tavares, Hezonja...I can't praise them enough for the faith they've had'.
Praise from Tavares
'It's wonderful to hear what Tavares thinks of you. I feel like I've won two trophies with those words. We've kept the team together, as a family. We kept believing in each other, we had a very difficult journey and we fought until the end. He's a great person and I'm very happy for him too'.
Words for the veterans
'They know what their job is very well and if we've done something well it's been protecting Tavares because he has to play 35 minutes every game. The veterans know how to protect themselves too. Sergio Rodriguez played more than I expected, but he did great. He was fresh'.
Sergio Rodriguez
'He's arrived just at the right time. At 37 years of age, he came in fresh and with the magic he's always had. People might think that he wasn't playing a lot, but in the end we understood who the point guards were and who could accompany the point guard. Sergio Rodriguez was fresh and magical thanks too to the fact that he played very little at the beginning of the season. When the time came, we had Sergio Rodriguez and Williams-Goss at point guard and Hanga and Llull helping out'.