“It is one more incentive to return what happened last year”
BARCELONA, 16 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça player Álex Abrines assured that the team arrives “motivated” at the Euroleague Final Four in Kaunas (Lithuania) and eager to face the semifinal against Real Madrid, the team that eliminated them in the previous meeting, despite the fact that it may be “something cheating” to focus on the three casualties of the whites.
“No, I think that the loss is something of a trap. In the end, I think we should think that Madrid is a great team and they have shown it against Partizán, having come back from 0-2 against. You have to keep that in mind , that Madrid is a great team, they never give up and if they have anything, it’s experience in this type of match,” Abrines told the media at the Blaugrana team’s Media Day.
Thus, despite the losses of Deck, Yabusele and Poirier, Abrines believes that the Clásico will be different but not easier at all. “Real Madrid has shown, not only in recent years, but in the last decade, that they are one of the best teams. So, we are happy, motivated and we are going for another semi-final against Madrid”, he assured.
“In the end you have to take advantage of the loss of the rival team, right? It’s a shame because you don’t want anyone to get injured among co-workers, but hey, it’s the situation it is and as I said before, in the end I think I hope that these casualties are not so important. I hope they don’t make us relax, but that we go for more, to try to attack, especially in that position of ‘4’”, he added.
Regarding the fact that last year Real Madrid eliminated them in the ‘semis’ of the Final Four, he believes that the rematch is one more “incentive”, something that has not been forgotten. “In the end, I think that a Clásico by itself already has enough incentives, but hey, those of us who were there last year have one more, one more reason to try to go out with more motivation if possible and try to give them back what happened last year. last year,” he said.
And they arrive with “good feelings” at the appointment. “The team arrives at a good time, in the last two months I think we have been playing very good basketball and we are confident. The results have also accompanied us and we have also achieved first place in the Endesa League and well, with a lot of desire”, reiterated.
On a personal level, after signing a 6/8 in triples, he assured that he arrives “happy and well”. “Friday will be another game with another rival. As I said before, I am confident, but hey, if we have to sacrifice and play a more defensive game, I will do it. In the end, I just want to win,” he acknowledged.
Asked by Walter Tavares, the great internal reference of Real Madrid, he accepted that it will be “complicated” to stop him. “We will prepare a couple of things, but in the end he is a very big guy who dominates in the paint and I think it will be a job for the five who are on the track at that time,” he added.
Abrines faces the third Final Four in a row with Barça, without titles and with a two-play final. “We are where we wanted to be. Those of us who have been here for three years, well, we have been here three in a row, but hey, we have many players who are here in Barcelona for the first time but they have played I don’t know how many. We have a team with a mix of young people with a lot of hunger and veterans who have already won and who have played a lot”, he commented in this regard.
“Everyone has their own personal situation, as I said before. Some have more Final Four than others, others have won it. I think we all have to help each other and know the importance of small details. Because in the end, in these matches , with teams of such a high level, it is decided by very little,” he added.
In any case, he believes that the tension “is the same” as other years despite the baggage acquired in the two previous four finals. “We arrived at a good physical and mental moment, I think much better than last year. We have gone from less to more throughout the year and well, these last two months we have gained incredible confidence. The team is involved and plugged in and It’s very important because we’re all there, not just a few. I think it’s very important to have depth on the bench,” he claimed.
“We have ensured that everyone is plugged in and that one day is one, that another day is another, but that everyone adds up. There will be games that perhaps someone is not fine and that is when we all have to be there and try to add. “Sometimes not from the score, but from the defense, from the rebound, be more aggressive. Sometimes by not wanting to make a couple of consecutive fouls you concede a small partial. I think that in the end this is going to be very important”, he concluded.