“You are playing in your sixth Final Four, and you are going to experience your fourth Final…
That’s it, let’s move on, I’m happy to be in the final again. Olympiakos was a complicated match. Leading by 20 points at halftime is good, but we know how things turn out most of the time. A little relaxation, the opponent returning to -10, the fans starting to get hot. The momentum clearly shifted to their side in the third quarter. We made more mistakes, and above all they prevented us from running even though we had scored 17 points on a counter-attack in the first half. From experience, we managed to make the difference, thanks to Chacho’s pick and roll game (Rodriguez)with a few important shots.
Real is seeking a 12th European title. Is it this summit experience that allows you to get out of all situations?
It matters, yes. We are very united too, with this backbone, the three Spaniards Llull, Fernandez, Rodriguez – and then… me too (he’s laughing), I’ve been here for seven years, anyway. I didn’t really know how it was going to go for me, as it’s been a month since I played in the Euroleague. I was anxious. In the first quarter, I enter on the last defense to avoid a risk of a second foul (Dzanan) Musa. Finally I make a counter and Chus Mateo says to himself that I am in and that he can leave me. It made me feel good to participate, share with others, and I am especially happy with the result.
“Playing in the Final Four is a childhood dream, I watched them all at home with my parents. (…) I believe a lot in my routines, and that’s also what I’m ready for”
You are very often successful and essential during the Final Four that you have played. Where do this faith and success come from?
I’ve worked my whole career for this, and I work all year for these matches. People who see me every day know that I arrive an hour before all training sessions and leave half an hour after. Guerschon (Yabusele) said to me during the match: “You’re a fool! You haven’t played for a month, you come in, you defend in front of everyone, you put on the right shot…” Playing the Final Four, it’s It’s a childhood dream, I watched them all at home with my parents. Afterwards, being able to play them is something else (laugh). There is additional stress. But I believe a lot in my routines, and that’s also what I’m ready for.
Are you impressed by the basketball displayed by Real Madrid this season, which seems even stronger than last year?
We are favorites, but we know the Euroleague system. Last year, we were not in this position. Olympiakos had walked on water all season, led the entire final and conceded a shot two seconds from the end from Sergio Llull. It’s a bit cruel. The Final Four is an ultra-important event that’s awesome for fans. But when you’re a player, it’s a bit difficult to play everything in a match when you’ve dominated the season. We will see on Sunday if we are able to break the curse of the first of the season who has never won the title since the new formula (in 2016). But if any team can do it, it’s Real.
“We will see on Sunday if we are able to break the curse of the first of the season who has never won the title since the new formula”
You will once again meet Kostas Sloukas in the final. The first two times (2018 and 2023), you successfully defended him on the last possessions…
I know it but I don’t want to jinx myself by talking about it (laugh). I’m superstitious. It’s true, we won the first two times, and I hope history will repeat itself. But I’m also very afraid of him because he didn’t have a great match today. And often, when he misses a match, he plays the next one like an MVP… He is not alone, either, in this team, which is full of big players. So we will have to be ready. »
