Chus Mateo: “There are just 40 minutes to go and we'll give everything we have to win the title'
“It's been a tough year but we fought hard, it's a pleasure to be involved in this game,' highlighted Tavares in the press conference ahead of the EuroLeague final.
Chus Mateo and Tavares spoke in the pre-match press conference ahead of the EuroLeague final Sunday, 7:00pm CEST at the Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas. The coach discussed the showpiece against Olympiacos: “First things first, we have to congratulate our rivals in making the final. It's an honour for me to be in the final in my first year as coach and compete against such a great side. It's been a real journey to get here. We've had to fight hard, through injuries, tough situations... but now we're in the final following the most hard-fought Regular Season in recent EuroLeague history. We have to dream. There are just 40 minutes to go and we'll give everything we have to win the title. We're not about to stop here.'
“Olympiacos are a fantastic team full of players with real personality who compete at the top level like Sloukas and Papanikolaou. We have players who know what it's like to play in these kinds of games as well. But if anything has helped us get here, it's our team spirit, the desire to dig in and produce our best moments when things get toughest. The ability to believe until the very end has made us stronger.'
Thanks to the fans
“I'd like to thank everyone who has made the trip here and we know there are loads of people back in Spain watching us too. Winning and losing is all part of the game but giving it our all is our history, a characteristic of the club and it will always be there. We're going to try and do the best we possibly can. We'll have our chances, that's for sure. Nobody should doubt we're going to give it everything we have to be crowned champions.'
Unity
“The guys who have been with the team for a longer period of time are important but so is playing as a team and sticking together. Some are playing in the Final Four for the first time and others have vast experience. We have to combine those facets but the key is being united. We have great chemistry, we're ready to compete. We can't pay too much attention to statistics, injuries or things in the past. We're going to fight for forty minutes.'
Confidence
“When we were 0-2 down in the playoff we just focused on the next game. Everyone said we'd never get back to Madrid because it was so tough to win in Belgrade but we stuck together at the toughest moments. You can't win there without playing some great basketball. The fourth game was the hardest and then we got back to Madrid. When we were up against it, losing by 18 points, we always believed we could come back and win it, we did just that. The chemistry we have between all the players makes me very proud. Now we're just one win away from clinching the title and we're approaching it just the same. We're close to the end of the road but this adversity has made us stronger.'
Going up against a big center
“Fall is a fantastic player, not just because of his point-scoring and defending but also all the situations he provokes. He's one of the best centers in Europe, and he's as big as Tavares. But we'd be mistaken to focus only on him. I hope Tavares can maintain the levels he's been showing because he's a key man for us.'
Laso's legacy
“Laso showed us the path to take. I've been working with him for the last few years. He managed to have our team making the Final Four again after a lot of time away and we have carried on where he left off. He is of course hugely important to the team and I'm proud to have worked alongside him. I wish him all the best. But we have to look to the future and in our case, that means the game we have left to be crowned champions.'
“Olympiacos are a fantastic team full of players with real personality who compete at the top level like Sloukas and Papanikolaou. We have players who know what it's like to play in these kinds of games as well. But if anything has helped us get here, it's our team spirit, the desire to dig in and produce our best moments when things get toughest. The ability to believe until the very end has made us stronger.'
Thanks to the fans
“I'd like to thank everyone who has made the trip here and we know there are loads of people back in Spain watching us too. Winning and losing is all part of the game but giving it our all is our history, a characteristic of the club and it will always be there. We're going to try and do the best we possibly can. We'll have our chances, that's for sure. Nobody should doubt we're going to give it everything we have to be crowned champions.'
Unity
“The guys who have been with the team for a longer period of time are important but so is playing as a team and sticking together. Some are playing in the Final Four for the first time and others have vast experience. We have to combine those facets but the key is being united. We have great chemistry, we're ready to compete. We can't pay too much attention to statistics, injuries or things in the past. We're going to fight for forty minutes.'
Confidence
“When we were 0-2 down in the playoff we just focused on the next game. Everyone said we'd never get back to Madrid because it was so tough to win in Belgrade but we stuck together at the toughest moments. You can't win there without playing some great basketball. The fourth game was the hardest and then we got back to Madrid. When we were up against it, losing by 18 points, we always believed we could come back and win it, we did just that. The chemistry we have between all the players makes me very proud. Now we're just one win away from clinching the title and we're approaching it just the same. We're close to the end of the road but this adversity has made us stronger.'
Going up against a big center
“Fall is a fantastic player, not just because of his point-scoring and defending but also all the situations he provokes. He's one of the best centers in Europe, and he's as big as Tavares. But we'd be mistaken to focus only on him. I hope Tavares can maintain the levels he's been showing because he's a key man for us.'
Laso's legacy
“Laso showed us the path to take. I've been working with him for the last few years. He managed to have our team making the Final Four again after a lot of time away and we have carried on where he left off. He is of course hugely important to the team and I'm proud to have worked alongside him. I wish him all the best. But we have to look to the future and in our case, that means the game we have left to be crowned champions.'
Injuries
“They're really important for us because it means we have to approach things differently and find new solutions. But it relaxes me to know the team is united in these situations. The guys who are in the team now have to be enough to give it everything we have and give it our best shot. Anything can happen, but we're going to do all we can to win it with the guys we have available and not think about the ones who are missing.'
Tavares: “We'll give it our all to win”
“It's a hugely important game for us. When we started out in August, the first objective was making the playoffs, then the Final Four. Now we're here. It's been a tough year with a new coach who has really helped us. We've had our ups and downs but the team has dug in and fought hard to get here. It's a pleasure to be involved in this game and we're going to try and enjoy it. Olympiacos are a great team, you can tell they've been playing together for a long time and it will be a tough final, but we're going to give it all we have to win the game.'
Message for the fans
“They should stay positive and have the same ambition that they have had since the playoff. They showed that at the WiZink Center. We have to give it our best and make them feel proud of us, regardless of what happens in the game.'
Run of form
“There are always injuries over the course of a season. It's bad news to be without Poirier because we complement each other well and he brings such quality. I've always felt important to this team and have always known exactly what my role is and what they need from me, which is to help out in defence. This team has unbelievable talent in offense and often they don't need me to get involved.'
Clash with Fall
“He's a great player and he'll make life hard for me. But I'm feeling good, it will be a pleasure to play against him and I'll do my best to stop him.'
“They're really important for us because it means we have to approach things differently and find new solutions. But it relaxes me to know the team is united in these situations. The guys who are in the team now have to be enough to give it everything we have and give it our best shot. Anything can happen, but we're going to do all we can to win it with the guys we have available and not think about the ones who are missing.'
Tavares: “We'll give it our all to win”
“It's a hugely important game for us. When we started out in August, the first objective was making the playoffs, then the Final Four. Now we're here. It's been a tough year with a new coach who has really helped us. We've had our ups and downs but the team has dug in and fought hard to get here. It's a pleasure to be involved in this game and we're going to try and enjoy it. Olympiacos are a great team, you can tell they've been playing together for a long time and it will be a tough final, but we're going to give it all we have to win the game.'
Message for the fans
“They should stay positive and have the same ambition that they have had since the playoff. They showed that at the WiZink Center. We have to give it our best and make them feel proud of us, regardless of what happens in the game.'
Run of form
“There are always injuries over the course of a season. It's bad news to be without Poirier because we complement each other well and he brings such quality. I've always felt important to this team and have always known exactly what my role is and what they need from me, which is to help out in defence. This team has unbelievable talent in offense and often they don't need me to get involved.'
Clash with Fall
“He's a great player and he'll make life hard for me. But I'm feeling good, it will be a pleasure to play against him and I'll do my best to stop him.'