Chus Mateo: “Sticking together enabled us to win the game”
“We stayed calm and were able to get through the game to take the victory”, said Tavares, who was the game’s standout performer.
Chus Mateo and Walter Tavares analysed Real Madrid’s victory away at KK Crvena zvezda in Belgrade 59-79. The coach praised the players for their momentous efforts: “We knew it was going to be really tough. They had won eight out of the last 10 matches. I'm very pleased. I think we made a huge mental effort. We read the match really well and the rigour of the game, and we knew that there would be periods of doubt. There were some in the third quarter, but we stuck together and in the end we all contributed enormously: in rebounding, defence, we managed to close down the hoop in the last quarter. Probably, that consistency and solidity that being together has given us has enabled us to win the game”.
“There was a moment when we weren't comfortable in attack, they were scoring more easily than expected but we understood what the plan was. We didn't want them to score much from close to the basket, because they’re a really dangerous two-point shooting team. We conceded a bit more from the perimeter but we didn't falter and we managed to close the rebounding down well at the important moments. Then we made them falter in attack, and we were pretty good at distributing the ball again. Winning on this court isn't simple. Winning any away game in the EuroLeague is pretty hard and even more so in this atmosphere”.
Tavares: “It’s really hard to win here”
“It’s really hard to win here. We managed to do it, but it's not easy because it's a court where the crowd gets behind the team and drives them on. Concentration for the whole forty minutes was key and at the most difficult moments we stayed calm and were able to get through the game”.
“Chus Mateo had warned us that there were going to be difficult moments during the match and that we had to be ready to respond and that's what we did. As far as my performance is concerned, I felt good, but the aim’s always to win and the statistics don't mean anything. It's important to put in a shift for the good of the team”.
“There was a moment when we weren't comfortable in attack, they were scoring more easily than expected but we understood what the plan was. We didn't want them to score much from close to the basket, because they’re a really dangerous two-point shooting team. We conceded a bit more from the perimeter but we didn't falter and we managed to close the rebounding down well at the important moments. Then we made them falter in attack, and we were pretty good at distributing the ball again. Winning on this court isn't simple. Winning any away game in the EuroLeague is pretty hard and even more so in this atmosphere”.
Tavares: “It’s really hard to win here”
“It’s really hard to win here. We managed to do it, but it's not easy because it's a court where the crowd gets behind the team and drives them on. Concentration for the whole forty minutes was key and at the most difficult moments we stayed calm and were able to get through the game”.
“Chus Mateo had warned us that there were going to be difficult moments during the match and that we had to be ready to respond and that's what we did. As far as my performance is concerned, I felt good, but the aim’s always to win and the statistics don't mean anything. It's important to put in a shift for the good of the team”.