Chus Mateo: How to Stay Focused for a Tough Game

Chus Mateo shared his thoughts on Realmadrid TV prior to the Real Madrid-Morabanc Andorra clash in the Liga Endesa (Sunday, 12:30 pm CET). The coach expressed, “We’re going to try to stay focused because there are a lot of games coming up in the next few weeks. But we can’t lose our focus against Andorra. It’ll be a tough game against a side that has made things very difficult for all the teams they’ve faced.”

“Everyone who takes on Madrid tries to win, and even more so on our home court. They’re always looking to spring a surprise, but we’ll try to make sure that doesn’t happen. Andorra are dangerous from the perimeter, they have inside players who open up the court a lot and they are also good under the hoop.”

Competitiveness of the league
“The league is highly competitive. When you play against a team that is lower down the table, it’s always difficult. Also, playing during the week means that the energy is not at its best. We can’t make excuses for this. The league is tough because of the large number of Spanish teams in European competitions. This makes our league a top league.”

Real Madrid’s qualities
“I like to see Real Madrid playing fast, being able to read the opposition’s defences and running after rebounds. We have strong individual quality, with players capable of creating play. It’s important that we continue in this vein.”