Chus Mateo: 'We stood together at the most important moments.'
'We played every second like it was our last and that helped us win the game,' Tavares said after the victory.
Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo and players Tavares and Sergio Rodríguez analysed the team's victory in Belgrade in the fourth game of the Euroleague playoffs. The coach said at the press conference: "We played consistently in the first quarter, taking a lead. Partizan is a team of warriors, they were on their home court and with all their people cheering them on, and they came back into the game. But we stood together at the most important moments, we defended well, although it was not easy to stop Leday and Papapetrou."
"In the final stretch, we took a small lead that was neutralised after two strange steals, but we fought until the end and managed to get another lead that was decisive."
"We knew from the beginning that it was not going to be easy, that it was going to be a tough and long playoff. It is very difficult to win here in Belgrade and it is very difficult to win in Madrid. Partizan has now done it but so have we. The fifth game will be much tighter, with more tension. But we will have the home-court advantage again, which has been crucial during the season. We need to be focused every minute."
Keys
"In the first quarter we didn't let them play comfortably in attack, finding solutions in defence. That's one of the keys, but not the only one. We defended very well. It's also important not to lose balls and not to get offensive rebounds, and to find balance with our offence."
"In the final stretch, we took a small lead that was neutralised after two strange steals, but we fought until the end and managed to get another lead that was decisive."
"We knew from the beginning that it was not going to be easy, that it was going to be a tough and long playoff. It is very difficult to win here in Belgrade and it is very difficult to win in Madrid. Partizan has now done it but so have we. The fifth game will be much tighter, with more tension. But we will have the home-court advantage again, which has been crucial during the season. We need to be focused every minute."
Keys
"In the first quarter we didn't let them play comfortably in attack, finding solutions in defence. That's one of the keys, but not the only one. We defended very well. It's also important not to lose balls and not to get offensive rebounds, and to find balance with our offence."
On Deck's injury
"We're also upset about Deck's injury. I don't yet know the extent of it, but from his gestures it doesn't look good."
Message of support for the victims of the tragedy in Belgrade
"I wanted to convey my condolences to the families of the victims of the Belgrade school tragedy. It's a sad day for all Serbs, but also for all Spaniards. It is something that should never happen."
Tavares: "We knew it was going to be tough"
"We were focused, we played every second as if it was our last and that helped us win the game. We knew it was going to be tough."
Sergio Rodríguez: "We have to be ready for game number 5"
"The key will be energy. Having the same energy we had today from the start is fundamental. There will be tough moments during the game, but we have to be ready. We've been working for this moment since the beginning of the season and we want to take advantage of the home-court factor."
"The atmosphere today was very exciting from the beginning. We found our rhythm right from the start, we were ready. We forced the fifth game and now we have to use the opportunity to rest for a couple of days and be well prepared for that."
"We're also upset about Deck's injury. I don't yet know the extent of it, but from his gestures it doesn't look good."
Message of support for the victims of the tragedy in Belgrade
"I wanted to convey my condolences to the families of the victims of the Belgrade school tragedy. It's a sad day for all Serbs, but also for all Spaniards. It is something that should never happen."
Tavares: "We knew it was going to be tough"
"We were focused, we played every second as if it was our last and that helped us win the game. We knew it was going to be tough."
Sergio Rodríguez: "We have to be ready for game number 5"
"The key will be energy. Having the same energy we had today from the start is fundamental. There will be tough moments during the game, but we have to be ready. We've been working for this moment since the beginning of the season and we want to take advantage of the home-court factor."
"The atmosphere today was very exciting from the beginning. We found our rhythm right from the start, we were ready. We forced the fifth game and now we have to use the opportunity to rest for a couple of days and be well prepared for that."