Scariolo: “I am very proud of the players' effort and very happy to be in the final”
“We had to completely reinvent ourselves,” explained the coach after the victory against Valencia Basket.
Sergio Scariolo analyzed Real Madrid's victory against Valencia Basket in the Euroleague semifinals. The coach said in a press conference: “I am very happy to be in the final and also to have beaten a great team. They never gave up and tried to come back every time. I give them a lot of credit, but I am very proud of the players' effort. It’s incredible how they have reactivated in every complicated situation. We probably need another full tank of energy for Sunday, but now is not the time to talk about the final. Today is a time to be proud and celebrate in a restrained way because we have a final ahead.”
Garuba's injury
“100% ruled out for Sunday.”
Was the game tactically what you expected?
“We had to completely reinvent ourselves. Our team has a clear sense and identity, built week by week and month by month, which has brought us to the season we’ve had with Tavares and Len. If they are not there, we have to invent something, with some different idea. I wasn’t too worried about the offensive part because we knew what we needed to do, but I was, and rightly so, about the defensive part with the rebounds. Until we took control of the rebounds in the third quarter, we weren’t able to take a clear lead against a team that kept coming back into the game. It was a great execution by the players of what we had planned, a great effort to grab 17 more rebounds than Valencia.”
Team evolution
“Since November, we have been a great team, we’ve played basketball very well, found a very good balance, and established a very clear identity. We’ve lost some close games away and won some close ones at home. We are super happy, not just to be in a final, but with the growth we’ve made as a team. However, it’s sad to see three teammates sitting out unable to help the team.”
Locker room response to challenges
“It’s a team with players of character, which has managed to solidify as a cohesive team where everyone knows and accepts their role, where there is internal debate but a lot of discipline. There is a lot of trust in the work we are all doing together. I have great faith in my players’ ability to understand the game and compete; they trust what we propose to them, and the result has been what it is. The two blows we’ve received have been very tough, but we’ve managed to regroup.”
Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.