By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona coach Sarunas Jasikevicius made it clear that things will not be easy against Real Madrid in the semifinals of the EuroLeague because the arch-rivals having issues with injuries. Barcelona on the other side will have every player available except for Higgins
Tomorrow Barcelona will do the last training and travel to Kaunas.
“The team is in a good moment but if one reaches the Final Four, it is. We were happy the last few years, although it was a little different, but we got there well. More or less fine. The important thing is the 40 minutes in which you have to give everything”, Jasikevicius said.
The stakes are high in Kaunas, the Euroleague title is on the line.
“It is very difficult to say something. We tried to talk, but we will try more in Kaunas. A person has to go through all this, we have experienced players. As staff, we have also gone through many things this season. This helps. It is a mixture of many details. We are looking forward to it and I hope things turn out well for us”
Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo will not have Poirier, Deck, and Yabusele. The first two were because of injuries, and Yabusele because of the suspension.
“It changes the game because you prepare things against them. This does not mean that Madrid will be worse as a team. They are a super long, experienced staff. They will not be worse, but different. You have to have more of a winning character than Real Madrid. They are going to play differently, but I don’t think it’s worse“.
The mentality is key in a game against Real Madrid.
“I don’t know who considers us favorites or not. It does not matter. I think we have options, I’m sure the other side thinks the same. We are two games away. I don’t know to what extent we were favorites in the past. I don’t think it matters.”