Piraeus, Greece — After Real Madrid fall 0-2 in series to Olympiacos during Euroleague playoffs, head coach Chus Mateo stand firm as he refuse to blame referees for the loss. In Game 2, which take place on April 25, 2025, Real Madrid led at first but succumb to strong comeback from the Greek side.
Real Madrid began the match well, taking the first quarter 25-15. But as the game progress, Olympiacos rally back, displaying solid defense and mental fortitude to take the lead and secure their second consecutive win in the best-of-five series. Mateo express pride in his team despite the loss, saying, “We tried to fight until the end and I am proud of my players because they gave their all from start to finish.”
Mateo *no wan* to stir controversy in his post-game talk. He points out, “I believe in the honesty of the referees and in my club, we never complain after the game about injuries or bad calls. We only fight during the game.” His firm stand come after he was ejected from Game 1 following two technical fouls.
Now with the series heading to Madrid, Real Madrid face a do-or-die Game 3 next week. History provides some hope for the Spanish team, as they successfully came back from a 0-2 deficit last season against Partizan, later winning the championship.
Real Madrid shot 47% from the field compared to Olympiacos’ 35% during the match. However, turnovers and missed opportunities cost them dearly. Mateo noted the need to improve decision-making in offensive plays going forward.
“We have to keep believing until the end; we will fight. In Real Madrid there is a saying: ‘Until the end, let’s go, we can do it, until the last second,’” Mateo added. “I thought we could win, but there were some mistakes in attack; we lost focus.” Mateo’s attitude reflects a fighting spirit that he hopes will inspire his players as they prepare to face Olympiacos again in front of their own fans.
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