Llull: "The team is in great shape going into the final stretch of the season"

Sergio Llull spoke to the media on the eve of the third game of the Liga Endesa final, which Real Madrid will play against Valencia Basket away from home (Wednesday, 9.15 pm CEST): "The atmosphere is going to be spectacular for basketball. We're playing against a great team that has shown that in the games in Madrid. It's going to be a very tough game, and we'll have to do everything right for the full 40 minutes to have a chance of winning tomorrow and achieving our goal."

"We're two teams that know each other very well. We've played each other many times this year, and each team prepares for the games in a certain way. Tomorrow, there may be new things, things that are similar to previous games, but every game against Valencia Basket is a different story. They've had a great year, they're playing at a high level, and they've reached the end of the season in good shape. That, added to the fact that they're playing at home in a packed arena, means we'll have to be very focused for the full 40 minutes. We have to do things very well if we want to have a chance of winning."

Team feeling
"The team is in very good shape going into the end of the season. It may be because we were eliminated from the Euroleague, although nobody likes not reaching the Final Four, especially Real Madrid. But it's true that those weeks with only one game, apart from being boring, have been good for the cohesion of the group and for seeing what we had to do better. We have prepared very well for the playoffs. The team, despite the absence of Deck, whom we miss, has finished very well: with a clear head and knowing what we have to do to finish the year well."

Demanding Valencia
"It's difficult to play against Valencia. They have a lot of quality players, and they play at a frenetic pace. They use the three-point line a lot, and when they're on target, it's an uphill battle. We have a deep roster to counter that high pace. We also like to run. When we run, we can defend well and control the rebound, and we're dangerous too. But trying to control their fast pace is going to be one of the keys to winning."

Do you consider the game fun?
"For me, playing basketball is always fun. No matter who the opponent is or what the situation is. Basketball is our job, and we get paid for it, but if it weren't, it would still be a hobby. Against Valencia is no exception. It's fun to play against them; they're a very cheerful team. They play very dynamically, they use the three-point line a lot, and they set traps in defence. Games like tomorrow's are the ones everyone likes, with a full house and the chance, if you do things right, to be rewarded with a title."

The possibility of becoming the player with the most ACB titles
"It's not something that's on my mind. You guys are the ones who remember and write about it. But to be tied with Navarro, Rullán, and Luyk, who are legends, is already an incredible achievement. My personal ambition is for Real Madrid to win another Liga title, not for me to break a record. It's a team sport, and what the team wants is to achieve that collective win and dedicate it to the fans who support us so much."