from tears “because” of Tavares’ rule in Europe | Relief

Berlin.- In February 2023, immediately after the defeat in the semi-finals of the Cup to Unicaja, Chus Mateo’s future at the helm of Real Madrid hung in the balance. April 27, after a 2:0 draw against Partizan and an image of a sad fight on WiZink, The Madrid coach seemed completely defenestrated to such an extent that many have already seen Sergio Scariolo on the white bench next season. However, the coach, despite everything, survived and won the Euroleague.

It was at that moment, just a year ago, that the life of a coach who trained on the playing fields of a Madrid school began to change and who During these 365 days, he went from being on a tightrope to consolidating himself at the head of the white team. sign the best season in the Euroleague and become the coach with the most wins in a calendar year (74) at the helm of the Madrid team.

Figures that helped him gain a foothold on the bench, although, as he himself admitted before flying to Berlin, it hardly changed him on a personal level.“This is an experience that shapes us as a coach. and what is possible and what is possible in this club, in the game or in the championship, but on a personal level nothing has changed. “I hope I’m here for a long time, but I know I’m here one day and I’ll be gone the next, there’s more to life than basketball.”

However, For the Madrid coach, basketball is a good part of life. “He’s a little tired of basketball. I remember when we were in Malaga and in bad moments I told him to do other things to unblock us. Go to the cinema and there you will see him with an iPad next to him, watching the games and the results,” he recalled a few months ago in the relay Paco Orioles, the current assistant coach of Unicaja and godfather of one of the sons of the Madrid coach.

It was this passion that Mateo was able to pass on to his players and made him the right eye of stars such as Eddie Tavares.who a year ago in Kaunas raised the flag of defense for his coach, which even made him cry. “You should apologize to him,” Tavares began. “He was the one who believed in us from August until now. He deserves it more than anyone else. Because he’s one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life,” said the center, who a year later has kept his assessment of his coach unchanged.

“The first year of all trainers or all workers, When you start your first year of work, it is difficult to get into a rhythm, it is difficult to learn something and do everything right the first time. I think he did it well, not bad, but he did everything he could to get us to the Final Four well. But this year it has become a little calmer. He’s been here for two years and already knows what he needs to do.“,” noted the Cape Verdean, who remains one of his coach’s biggest supporters. “He is much more confident and calmer than last year.”

The opportunity that never came

What Chus Mateo experienced in Madrid constitutes his entire career. No one made it easy for him, even when he arrived in Real Madrid’s reserve team at the age of just 22. His triumph comes from self-confidence. Although sometimes his personality has prevented him from gaining more recognition in the past.

“Chus Mateo is a very good person and that’s why it took him a while to get this opportunity because he is a very good person.” Speaking on behalf of Relevo is Zan Tabak, who worked with the Madrid coach as assistant to Pablo Lazo, as well as at Fuenlabrada and Unicaja. “He always had the knowledge, but some coaches come earlier and others later. He deserves it. I had no doubt that he would succeed. But in addition to knowledge and quality, you need a little luck.”

Fortune and preparation. Two fundamental ingredients that will help hold the second Euroleague in a row. Something that hasn’t happened in Madrid since 1968, when Pedro Ferrandis was on the bench. Coach Alicante is the coach with the most continental titles at Real Madrid (four). They are followed by Lolo Sainz and Pablo Laso, who complete the holy trinity of Real Madrid fans with two players. The figure that Chus Mateo now strives for. While he’s not obsessed with it, he is excited.

“Pressure is what we put on ourselves. It is very difficult to win the Euroleague, but we have the same opportunities as the other three teams. We like to focus on the opponent we face in the semi-finals and not think about anything else because this match is absolutely key. You might think that winning two EuroLeague titles is a pipe dream. And now we have this opportunity“We are going to do everything we can to beat Olympiacos and see if we can write a good page in the history of the club,” the Spaniard said ahead of the Final Four. An event that changed his life in a year. back Even if it’s just basketball.