In just a few months, Real Madrid has gone from a positive record to a negative one. Last year, the white club broke the record for most victories (27 in 34 games) in a regular phase of the Euroleague, a wonderful streak that led to runners-up after the final loss against Panathinaikos. But that castle has collapsed and today the team coached by Chus Mateo has had its worst start under this European format (since 2000) by suffering five defeats in its five continental trips: against Bayern (97-89), Baskonia (76 -72), Olympiacos (79-69), Maccabi (79-78) and Olimpia Milano (85-76). To the five skids, another one is added at home, against Efes (64-74), for a balance of five games won and six lost in their 11 European events. And the sixth visit is today to Barça at the Palau (8:45 p.m., Movistar).
Madrid has already lost six times in this Euroleague when in the entire previous season they only lost one more. And they are five of five disappointments away from WiZink when in the regular phase of the 2023-24 campaign they only delivered the spoon in four of their 17 away nights: Fenerbahçe, Barcelona, Monaco and Milan. That Madrid began the season with 19 consecutive victories and did not lose until November 19, against Unicaja. This version has already been surpassed nine times adding all the competitions.
In between, a revolution. Six out (Sergio Rodríguez, Alocén, Causeur, Rudy, Yabusele and Poirier) and four up (Feliz, Rathan-Mayes, Garuba and Ibaka) to wear the replacement. The acclimatization section and the injuries (Campazzo, Feliz, Musa, Hezonja, Garuba…) have filled the road with curves. And some player like Hezonja has aired doubts in public. “We play with many players, they change us and it is difficult to get chemistry,” said the Croatian forward in Miribilla in the middle of another defeat.
Always calm in the middle of the storm, Chus Mateo asks for calm with the support of what he has harvested in the last two years. “The path is going to be very different from last year. We have to stay away from certain emotions, not become obsessed, both the kids and I, and by working we will be closer and closer to breaking what resists us,” the white coach said yesterday. “I don’t like putting excessive pressure on ourselves, having anxiety. We don’t have to go crazy. Let’s not rush and we will go further to be prepared in the final stretch. “It’s not a mental issue.”
Mateo retains Garuba’s doubt for this Thursday’s appointment, a classic “motivator” that he hopes will serve as a switch. To do this, they will have to tighten a defensive system that concedes 82.2 points per game in Europe compared to 78.5 the previous year. The coach, however, points out above: “We have improved in defense, but it also has to do with our attack, choosing shots. And be more disciplined when we play away from home, more rigorous, not make silly mistakes, control losses. We have to be more cautious, we are not the happy team of last year.” Barça will measure that recovery. Mateo assures: “The game does not come at a bad time, it comes at the right time.”
