Chus Mateo: “This tournament is good preparation for the Super Cup”
“Bayern and Unicaja won't be easy opponents but we always try to win, whether it's a friendly or not,” said the coach ahead of the XII Costa del Sol Tournament (live on Realmadrid TV).
This weekend, Real Madrid will be taking part in the XII Costa del Sol Tournament, which will be shown live on Realmadrid TV. The Whites’ coach, Chus Mateo, spoke ahead of the team’s first clash against Bayern Munich Saturday, 8pm CEST: “This tournament is good for us as part of our preparation. We don't consider the utmost importance to it but we're approaching the Super Cup and it's good for us to be able to compete with two top level teams in Bayern and Unicaja.”
“There are still some players who have yet to return and others who have to be given a certain leeway because they are overloaded with work and games and they are coming back from their national teams. We still can't play everyone and we're going to rest some of them, especially the internationals. We're travelling with four of the young players who are helping us: Hugo González, Ismaila, Egor and Mitar. Llull, Yabusele and Tavares are not going. Rudy, will be.”
Super Cup
“It's always something we don't know because all the teams are starting to function and we have new players. We've brought in Campazzo, but he's someone we know, he knows the club and his teammates, so his incorporation won't be difficult. Keeping the group together gives us a certain advantage; the fact that there are no big changes and that everyone maintains a degree of the same mechanisms as in previous years. We have to value this Super Cup. We've been winning it for a while now, but you never know how you're going to get there and you have to do very well because the opponents are also strong.”
“There are still some players who have yet to return and others who have to be given a certain leeway because they are overloaded with work and games and they are coming back from their national teams. We still can't play everyone and we're going to rest some of them, especially the internationals. We're travelling with four of the young players who are helping us: Hugo González, Ismaila, Egor and Mitar. Llull, Yabusele and Tavares are not going. Rudy, will be.”
Super Cup
“It's always something we don't know because all the teams are starting to function and we have new players. We've brought in Campazzo, but he's someone we know, he knows the club and his teammates, so his incorporation won't be difficult. Keeping the group together gives us a certain advantage; the fact that there are no big changes and that everyone maintains a degree of the same mechanisms as in previous years. We have to value this Super Cup. We've been winning it for a while now, but you never know how you're going to get there and you have to do very well because the opponents are also strong.”
Opponents in the Costa del Sol Tournament
“Bayern are a new team, coached by Laso. He's joining a different discipline, he's going to make changes without a doubt and they're going to play differently. They're always a dangerous team, a top team in Germany. If they maintain the style that Laso has instilled in his players, they'll play fast and very good basketball. And we saw Unicaja last year. They're becoming a more and more solid team defensively, they're tough, good rebounding. They're a difficult team to beat and none of them will be easy opponents. Regardless of winning or losing, what we need to do now is to start implementing the things we want and for the team to start to pick up the mechanisms that we need during the season.”
Objective for the tournament
“We're getting back to fitness. There are a lot of people coming in with different rhythms. This is preparation to get as fit as possible for the Super Cup and we'll try to maintain our ambition to win everything, regardless of whether it's a friendly or not. We'll always try to win.”
“Bayern are a new team, coached by Laso. He's joining a different discipline, he's going to make changes without a doubt and they're going to play differently. They're always a dangerous team, a top team in Germany. If they maintain the style that Laso has instilled in his players, they'll play fast and very good basketball. And we saw Unicaja last year. They're becoming a more and more solid team defensively, they're tough, good rebounding. They're a difficult team to beat and none of them will be easy opponents. Regardless of winning or losing, what we need to do now is to start implementing the things we want and for the team to start to pick up the mechanisms that we need during the season.”
Objective for the tournament
“We're getting back to fitness. There are a lot of people coming in with different rhythms. This is preparation to get as fit as possible for the Super Cup and we'll try to maintain our ambition to win everything, regardless of whether it's a friendly or not. We'll always try to win.”