Chus Mateo: “We've only got one game in mind and we want to do well”
“Our team is in good form and we're going to try to keep that momentum going”, explained Musa, who accompanied the coach at the press conference to launch the Final Four in Kaunas.
Chus Mateo and Dzanan Musa spoke for Real Madrid in the initial press conference ahead of the 2023 Final Four, at Unity Square in Kaunas. The coach analysed the semi-final matchup against Barcelona: “It's a Final Four that we have to enjoy after all the effort we've put in. Now, we want to win it and we're here to compete and do the best we can. It's important to be here and we've been competing in the top four for some time. We're in good form, we've only got one game in mind and we want to do well.”
“We did well throughout the Regular Season. There are a lot of teams that have done well all year long and even if they didn't make it to the Final Four they deserve a round of applause. We were at the top throughout the Regular Season, we were chasing home-court advantage and in the end it was essential to progressing in the playoffs. It was really tough, but that's in the past, there are no injuries, there are no statistics and there are no favourites.”
Coping with a tough season
“The most important thing is that we enjoy the moment. We've had our ups and downs during the year, but ultimately we've reached a great goal, which is reaching another Final Four. Now, we are aiming to go all the way to the end and hopefully we can win the trophy. We have to take the emotion out of negative situations and try to pull through as a team, which I think has strengthened us greatly during the Regular Season and the playoffs.”
Real Madrid’s mentality
“I think it's the spirit of the club, of the team. It's been a very tough road to reach this point and it's nice to know that we were never going to stand back and give up, and to see how we've survived. We're so proud of the players. That mentality has been with us for a long time at our club.”
Musa: “It's my first Final Four and we're going to try to win the trophy”
“It's my first Final Four and it's a very special feeling being here. Our team is in good form at the moment, we're in a good shape and we're going to try to keep that momentum going. It's not going to be easy, but we're going to enjoy the moment, take it game by game, play by play and try to win the trophy.”
The veterans’ experience
“It's fantastic to have such veterans in the team like Llull, Rudy and Sergio Rodríguez, who have played in many Final Fours. They help us all so much and I hope we can benefit from that experience in this type of game.”
“We did well throughout the Regular Season. There are a lot of teams that have done well all year long and even if they didn't make it to the Final Four they deserve a round of applause. We were at the top throughout the Regular Season, we were chasing home-court advantage and in the end it was essential to progressing in the playoffs. It was really tough, but that's in the past, there are no injuries, there are no statistics and there are no favourites.”
Coping with a tough season
“The most important thing is that we enjoy the moment. We've had our ups and downs during the year, but ultimately we've reached a great goal, which is reaching another Final Four. Now, we are aiming to go all the way to the end and hopefully we can win the trophy. We have to take the emotion out of negative situations and try to pull through as a team, which I think has strengthened us greatly during the Regular Season and the playoffs.”
Real Madrid’s mentality
“I think it's the spirit of the club, of the team. It's been a very tough road to reach this point and it's nice to know that we were never going to stand back and give up, and to see how we've survived. We're so proud of the players. That mentality has been with us for a long time at our club.”
Musa: “It's my first Final Four and we're going to try to win the trophy”
“It's my first Final Four and it's a very special feeling being here. Our team is in good form at the moment, we're in a good shape and we're going to try to keep that momentum going. It's not going to be easy, but we're going to enjoy the moment, take it game by game, play by play and try to win the trophy.”
The veterans’ experience
“It's fantastic to have such veterans in the team like Llull, Rudy and Sergio Rodríguez, who have played in many Final Fours. They help us all so much and I hope we can benefit from that experience in this type of game.”