Rudy: “I want to enjoy these months to continue winning trophies with Real Madrid”
“Playing for Real Madrid has been the best decision I've ever made as a professional sportsman,” said the player ahead of the EuroLeague game against Baskonia.
Rudy Fernández spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City the day before the game against Baskonia, in round 33 of the EuroLeague (Friday, 8.30pm CEST): “I'm 39 years old today and I'm very appreciative to have been associated with this club for so many years, which naturally are coming to an end. I've been at Real Madrid for so many years and I've had a lot of physical and mental strain, and I think the time is coming to think about things other than basketball and to enjoy what's left of these months so that I can continue to win trophies with Real Madrid. But I'm certainly getting older, my family pushes me a lot and it's physically and mentally very hard because there are so many games and it's getting to a point where you think about things other than professional basketball.”
Thinking about retirement?
“It's a difficult and striking word when you hear it, but I'm coming to a point in my career when I've reached an age, I've spent a lot of years as a professional, I've felt and still feel very loved and really happy here at Real Madrid and it's clear that this is coming to an end, but there are still a few months left to try to help out with whatever they ask of me and to enjoy the time with my teammates. Unfortunately, I've had injuries, but with the work of Real Madrid's fitness coaches I've been able to enjoy many more successes with my teammates and I feel privileged to have reached this point as a player who feels very important within the dynamic of the team.”
“I owe everything to Real Madrid. I'll always be at Real Madrid's disposal and when we part ways I'll always have them in my mind. When Real Madrid needs something or I need something, we'll always come together. That's very clear to me. I'll always be grateful to Juan Carlos Sánchez-Lázaro, Alberto Herreros and the president for pushing me to take this step of joining one of the clubs that has given me everything. It was the best decision I made as a professional sportsman and I know that I'll have Real Madrid and Real Madrid will always have me.”
Where do you see yourself after you leave?
“I'm not thinking about it. Now I want to think about the everyday stuff and when I quit and I'm at home resting, I'll think about what I want to do with my life. I'll be involved in basketball because I've been involved in it since I was a kid. But now I want to enjoy things with my teammates because ultimately it's because of my teammates and the atmosphere in the team that I've reached this point.”
The game against Baskonia
“In tomorrow's game we're not playing for anything and they are, but it must continue to help us to get into a competitive rhythm, because this year there's a new situation like the play-in and the teams we'll be playing will be the ones we'll be facing. It's something new and we have to be mindful that every game and every training session is important for us. Baskonia are going to come out the way they usually do against us, with a lot of intensity. Offensively, they have players with great outside shooting, who can score, and we have to get a feel for it and use it to our advantage. We have to put aside the fact that we have qualified and prepare for the playoffs.”