By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid head coach Pablo Laso discussed tomorrow’s Spanish League derby against arch-rivals Barcelona, emphasizing on the fact that his opponents remain dangerous despite their absences and that there are no favorites in this kind of matches.
“We arrive at the clasico at a good moment. We are not 100% ready yet, since sometimes I feel that our game isn’t strong enough. We have improved some aspects since preseason but we must continue to grow as a team. “
“To name a favorite in a Barcelona – Real Madrid seems like a joke. We show respect to everyone as a team. We don’t see ourselves superior than anyone, we don’t consider ourselves favorites and we don’t think any other teams as inferior. We try to compete and win everyday. We don’t think about whether we are a favorite.”
Even though the Blaugrana miss some key players, coach Laso knows that the challenge for his squad remains the same.
“Barcelona will present a game of great level, despite its absences. They have a great team, they are very competitive and play at their home court which increases the difficulty factor for us. It’s a different than the SuperCup semifinal and last season’s Finals. It’s an important game and the past doesn’t matter when it comes to it.”
Containing Tyrese Rice’s action will bring Real Madrid closer to victory, but he isn’t the only Barcelona player who deserves much attention, as coach Laso says.
“I worry about Rice of course because he’s a very important player and produces the lot for them. But when you play against such a team you can’t leave anyone out of the picture. Perperoglou is also a very dangerous player and Oleson is having his best season. Tomic and Dorsey are references in their inside game and Koponen is now with them. I never approach games thinking how to stop one man but how to stop the whole team.”