By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
He played professional basketball ten years in Europe and six in the NBA but as a newcomer in Spain he awaits the experience of the best final eight cup tournament of the old continent. In Martin Carpena Arena, Bostjan Nachbar will play for the first time in Copa del Rey as a member of Barcelona. Just before that, the Slovenian forward speaks on Eurohoops about the challenge but avoids to say anything that has to do with Real Madrid.
Barcelona will face Iberostar Tenerife on Friday night in the last quarterfinal of Copa del Rey and Nachbar can’t wait to get on the court: “We have definitely high expectations. We ‘ll try obviously to win the cup but it’s a very tough tournament. There are eight good teams from the tough Spanish league. Anybody can beat anybody, so we must go step by step. We are not thinking about the semifinals or the finals. We are thinking about the quarterfinals first. But yeah, it will be a great tournament, the most exciting part of the season”.
The Catalans are doing better and better during the last month and in a four day tournament everything has to do with the momentum and the confidence. How does Bostjan feel about it? “We are in a good position. We feel good about ourselves. I don’t know how to compare with others and how others feel themselves at this moment but we definitely feel good with confidence. We won a lot of games on road during the last month and it’s a good moment for us”.
If Barcelona and Real go until the end of the road, we will have in the final one more clasico. Are the players of Barcelona are wishing a revenge for Supercopa? “We are not thinking that far. It’s possible but we have to win quarterfinals first, then the semifinals and then hopefully we’ll talk about Real Madrid”.
So, the word “Real” is forbidden in Barcelona’s locker rooms? “I’m sure media and fans want to talk about it but we are professionals and we want to stay focus on each game once” answers the experienced Slovenian.