Chus Mateo: 'The rebound was a burden for us.'
'It's a long road and we have to think about the next game,' the coach explained following the Clásico.
Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo analysed the first Clásico of the year, which took place at the WiZink Center, on league match-day 14: "We played a regular game in terms of defensive rebounding and we knew it was important to control those aspects so that they didn't get follow up chances. The option to win was there and we haven't been bad all year in this aspect, but today they won that battle. They also scored easy points without much opposition. Rebounding weighed us down and was a key factor to their victory".
“Barcelona played a serious game. At 62-62 there were two offensive rebounds that ended in three-pointers; it was more of a psychological difference than a difference in points on the scoreboard at that point and it was hard for us to come back. We have to show more concentration and we have to learn from this.”
No Let-Up
"The schedule is demanding for all of us. The only way to get over these defeats is to work, stay together, keep fighting, learn from the games and focus on the next game. It’s a long road".