By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
In the lead-up to the demanding EuroLeague clash against Armani Milan, Xavi Pascual analyzed his team’s current form and commented on the off-court context surrounding the competition.
The Catalan coach had nothing but praise for the Italian team, which he considers one of the most dangerous in the league.
“They are a team with a lot of potential, a lot of quality. They are playing very well; they came close to winning against Hapoel. A very exciting game to play and a very important one, without a doubt,” he said, referring to the match against the powerful Milanese squad.
Beyond the strictly sporting aspect, Pascual was also asked about the international situation and its impact on the competition, alluding to home games of Israeli teams played in neutral venues in the Balkans.
The coach showed sensitivity and, at the same time, defended the importance of sport as a meeting point: “On the one hand, the concern of any citizen about a war, it is something no one likes, and I sympathize with those affected. On the other hand, we are part of the competition and do what we are told. Beyond all this, and on a personal level, I have always believed that sport and politics should be kept as separate as possible. Everything must continue, seeking solutions to ensure that sport remains the unifying force for civilizations and the entire world. I have always been against excluding teams for political reasons; sport should unite us all. That is my personal opinion. The competition will continue, and we have to adapt to the situation. When we play against Hapoel, I will have to say that I don’t like playing behind closed doors, but right now we are focused on Milan and Breogán; there will be time to talk about that later.”
On the sporting front, the team comes into the match after several defeats that have affected its competitive momentum.
“We’re training really well, and in the long run, it’ll work out for us. The week of training after the Cup was good, and now we’ve been able to rest a bit and train well. Sooner or later, it’ll work out again, and we need a win to turn things around. Previous matches affect the next ones; when you suffer a defeat, it’s hard to get back on the winning track. The sooner we manage that, the sooner we’ll be back. We’re lacking something in the final stages of matches; the team is stressed by the defeats. We need to get a win soon, and that will help us,” he explained.
Pascual also emphasized the need for a collective response to reverse the situation, which will come as soon as the team is able to put together a winning streak.
“Being who we are, we all have to perform at our best. When someone isn’t playing well, it’s very noticeable. There’s no one to cover for it, neither on defense nor offense. We all have to be at our best, almost everyone has to contribute, and we don’t all have to come onto the court, lowering our intensity or trying to fix things. We need that composure that we’ve been lacking,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of balance and consistency on both ends of the court.
Finally, he defended his team’s attitude despite the unfavorable results and highlighted the group’s daily commitment. “They want to win, there’s nothing to say to them about that. Every practice, every game… I can’t complain about anything; the team gives it their all. When you don’t win, it creates pressure for them, and they suffer. On those days, we’ve been able to stop, clear our heads and legs, and recharge our batteries.”