Real Madrid, with all its players available, returns home after three consecutive outings, two in the Euroleague against Hapoel Tel Aviv and Anadolu Efes, and another in the league against La Laguna Tenerife, all of them ending with victory to improve the sensations when the team plays matches away from its home field.
They will do so to play a duel between countrymen in the top European competition against Baskonia, who already beat them in Vitoria in the league match that measured both teams on October 12 at a time of less brilliance than the current one for the Madrid side, as they have won their last six matches.
Despite this, the Madrid coach, Sergio Scariolo, did not want to show his chest in the previous press conference: “At the level of play, of cohesion, I think we are more or less where I thought because normally when I say that he is a little further ahead than I thought, you immediately get the hit. We left him where I more or less thought.”
“We still lack a victory in the Euroleague, but we have also won very good games lately. Realistically and logically, such a new team, with a new coach, not simple at the chemistry level, is at a satisfactory point in its evolution; with a lot of room for improvement, especially many details of concentration, of individual attention on the court,” he added.
Scariolo claims to keep the match in Vitoria in mind, where he believes that they started with a solid plan and clear ideas before losing concentration and ending up falling victim to the rival's rhythm and ability to attack at speed: “There is Luwawu-Cabarrot, whose numbers in the last five games are really impressive; Markus Howard, who is similar; Forrest's fight is also a fundamental factor.”
“Normally, teams that work well on a day-to-day basis have gradual growth, it usually happens very regularly. Knowing Paolo Galbiati, knowing that he is a coach of great quality, of great intensity, young but talented, I understand that the team's growth surely also comes from there. They have incorporated players, they have removed people who did not fit, they have made good decisions in the latest additions,” he added.
He also celebrated having a week with two home games “because you can train without excessive worry about the burden of travel and double-shift matches in the Euroleague” and commented on his intention to dose the players to think about “long-term” objectives.
On the other hand, he spoke about his feelings and the advice he would give to the coach of the football team, Xabi Alonso: “I feel very comfortable. Obviously a little more worried when I lose and happy when I win. I work with a marked objective and shoot towards it; not even rumours, things, concerns deviate me. I am very clear about what my roadmap is, although obviously I listen to my collaborators, and that is the line I have always followed.”
“Now I have to follow her in a club in which everyone outside of it is considered qualified or authorized to operate. However, there are very few qualified people. It is better for
