Chus Mateo: "We'll have to play well to win on a tough court"
"Panathinaikos are going to make things very difficult for us, but we're going into the game full of enthusiasm and motivation", explained Tavares.
Chus Mateo and Walter Tavares spoke in the run-up to Panathinaikos-Real Madrid, corresponding to gameday 28 of the Euroleague (Thursday, 8:45 pm CET). The coach spoke about the game in Athens: "We have an important stretch of games against opponents who are involved in the playoff fight, but we're only thinking about the one ahead of us against Panathinaikos. We have to play well to win in Athens."
"It's been a long time since the game in the first half of the season. I think we had a 21-point lead and in the end we ended up winning by 4. What matters are the moments in the season. They are ahead, but they know we're dangerous and that we know how to play against them. Hopefully we'll play well in Athens, on a tough court where only two teams have won. We have to do things right to win but we're optimistic."
Hezonja and the team's motivation
"I imagine he'll have his own particular motivation but the one that worries me is the one we have at a collective level. We all have to be motivated and want to do well because it really is the team that matters and that wins."
Panathinaikos players
"Juancho Hernángomez is surely in the form of his life. As a team he's at an incredible level. He's a player who also contributes a lot defensively. He has reached a great level and we have to take that into account."
"Nunn is a special player. He averaged 25 points in February. You can't leave him alone for a moment, he requires special attention. We'll have to be vigilant in defending him."
Deck
"He's not travelling to Athens. He's starting to get into a rhythm and is working with the team, but he's not yet ready to travel."
Tavares: "There are seven finals and we are approaching them with ambition"
"We're going into the game with a lot of enthusiasm and motivation, knowing that we have a tough March ahead of us. Hopefully we can get a lot of victories because it would help us to be in a good position between now and the end of the season. There are seven games that are like finals and we have to approach them with a lot of ambition."
Rival
"They're going to push us hard, we have to be ready for a very difficult game. To win we have to play as a team. Playing in Athens is always complicated but we have to do so as a team."
Defence
"We play best when we defend well and that gives us more confidence in attack. They have a lot of attacking options and we have to prioritise defence and then attack as a team."