Pedro Martínez: “We are going to try to have the best possible Super Cup”
“In these early-season competitions, we go a bit blind and focus more on what depends on us than on the opponent,” added the coach.
Pedro Martínez spoke before Real Madrid's first training session in Abu Dhabi, where they will face Dubai Basketball in the EuroLeague Super Cup semifinals (Friday, 7:00 pm; Movistar Plus+): “I know how the competition system works and also the expectations a club like Real Madrid has. I prefer to do things without thinking too much about the medium term and stay focused on the present, which right now is to try to have the best possible Super Cup. Then, we will focus on the start of the EuroLeague and let our work take us where it needs to without putting more pressure on ourselves than we already have as professional athletes.”
Keys to the semifinal
“It’s hard to say because there is a lot of uncertainty about us, but we also have a lot about our opponent. We haven’t seen them play against very strong teams, and we don’t know exactly what their strategy will be. In these early competitions, you go a bit blind. We are trying to focus more on what depends on us than on the opponent.”
“We know all the players, but the coach is new, and we don’t know exactly what we will encounter. It’s always very important to do the basics of the game as well as possible: rebound, select shots well, avoid a high number of turnovers, and be solid in defensive rebounding.”
Style of play
“There are many comparisons to Valencia from last year during the final months of competition when we played the Final Four and won the league. What should be compared is Valencia Basket from the first months, which surely wasn’t as entertaining or as polished as it was later. What’s very important is to work, have patience, and keep improving.”
“If you keep improving, there will always come a time when you’ll reach a high competitive level. Expecting that to happen from day one, for everything to align perfectly, for all the players to understand everything, and for everyone to adapt is what we would like to happen, but it surely won’t be that fast.”