Laso: “We've managed to play in the four finals of the four competitions. That speaks volumes of this team”

Pablo Laso and his assistant coach, Chus Mateo, spoke in the press room at the WiZink Center after the club secured its 36^th league title . The madridista said: “It's extremely difficult, in a 10-month season, for bad things not to happen. We've managed to play in the four finals of the four competitions. That speaks volumes of this team. I think the work done by the guys during the whole season deserves a lot of praise. Of course, also for my coaching staff and the people who work with me every day".

"This is the team's greatest achievement. I feel very proud of all the people I've coached this season and how much they've contributed. Without Juan Trapero, our fitness coach, we would be nothing. And how can we not mention Chus, Paco and Lolo? They enjoy it when they win and suffer when they lose as much as my players do”.

“It's been a tricky few days for me, but I'm feeling very well. It was hard for me to lift the Cup, but that's because it weighs a load. I'm delighted with the way the team's worked this season. There're years when you win everything and you aren't so proud. But this year, when we haven't won everything, I'm so proud. Today the season ends with a smile”.

Chus Mateo: “We’re a first-class team”
"It’s been a tough year, we've endured a lot and we're delighted to lift this trophy, the effort and hard work has paid off. We kept playing with the same intensity. Today we weren't as accurate and it was difficult not to think that if we won we’d be league champions. It has been a very tough league season. We lost other finals in the last moments and there've been things that have been hard to overcome on a personal level for a lot of people. Serious injuries such as those to Alocén and Randolph. They're extraordinary guys who have endured a lot".

“And at the last minute, we had the scare of Pablo's heart attack, who, as you can see, is doing really well, and that reassured us a lot. We made an effort to pick ourselves up on many occasions, we've been consistent and persevering when we lost along the way. We lost two finals and this season would 've been like the perfect 2015 season if it had ended with different results, but that's the way basketball is”.

Values in life
“We should be proud of how the team's managed to pick itself up from those defeats. We've played poorly at times during the year, but we've kept working hard. We've been really serious and professional, and everyone knew that if we kept working we'd find a payoff. We've never wavered in the face of adversity. These are values of sport but also of life”.

Unity
“We're delighted with our efforts and we're extremely proud of the work we've put in. We're a first-class team, we've been very close and we've been united even more through adversity. What I had to deal with was a real burden, but it's ended pretty well. In the coaching team, we've been able to overcome a tricky moment so that Madrid can win yet another league under Pablo Laso's leadership".