The tears of the "package" Chus Mateo: "They should apologize"
Perhaps in those moments of great emotion, Chus Mateo was not very aware. His name was already among the legends, with that of Joaquín Hernández, Pedro Ferrándiz, Lolo Sainz and Pablo Laso as coaches of Real Madrid, European champions.. Only Xavi Pascual joins as a Spaniard, when he led Barca to the top in 2010. A milestone for his first year in charge of the white bench, eternal and renowned assistant with just a couple of failed attempts (Unicaja and Fuenlabrada) as first sword.
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Mateo's low profile has been undergoing a mutation in recent weeks. The playoff against Partizan was a liberation for the man from Madrid, who had a smile that he had rarely shown. In his speeches after the successive successes, not a trace of resentment, forgotten the pending accounts that he could well have settled. Because everything around him has been bullets since he agreed to get on a train of those that pass once in a lifetime. Take over from who was your boss and try to give continuity to a unique era. Pablo Laso's conflict with the club -especially with the director of the section, Juan Carlos Sánchez- due to his controversial departure ended up hurting him, accused of treason and careerism. With part of the press against it, the suspicious fans and the cruelty of social networks, Chus Mateo opted for work and silence (counted interviews) as the only recipe. Even after the setback of the Cup in Badalona. “I have always been under the magnifying glass, I assume it”, he was honest after the conquest of the Eleventh against Olympiacos.
On Sunday, in the bowels of the Zalgirio Arena, happiness was joined by emotion. There was a significant moment in the official press conference, with MVP Tavares at his side. The giant, without prior question, began his speech in English with a plea in favor of his technician. And his words were neither brief nor imposted. “My congratulations to Chus Mateo, who has suffered more than all so that we could achieve everything we have achieved. We are here for him, because he has believed in us and has had a lot of confidence. Many had to apologize, because there has been a lot of criticism. He is the boss, when talking about Madrid, you have to talk about him. He deserves it more than anyone because he is one of the best people I have met and he has known how to manage everything”, said the African. Beside him, the technician's eyes filled with tears.
Florentino Pérez, with Chus Mateo. EFE
A while before, the president of Real Madrid himself, who had traveled to Kaunas for the occasion, also gave him a cloak. “I'm happy for him, because I think he's had a difficult year and I think it's been unfair and today we're giving him recognition because from now on he's a great coach, so no one has any doubts,” Florentino Pérez said at the DAZN microphones.
Some words that are something more. Because, incredible as it may seem, not even Mateo himself is sure of his continuity next year. Even having raised a Euroleague in which he was gradually tearing apart Zeljko Obradovic in the quarterfinals, Sarunas Jasikevicius in the semifinals and Georgio Bartzokas in the final, coaches with a thousand more battles behind him.. When they questioned him about the continuity of his veterans Rudy, Llull and Sergio Rodríguez, Mateo pronounced a significant “that will have to be asked of the Real Madrid coach next year”. During these last months the club has negotiated without embarrassment with Andrea Trinchieri and Xavi Pascual and the name of Sergio Scariolo also appeared with force.
During this historic month of wonders, the coach trained at the Agustiniano school has shown enormous tactical baggage and, above all, an amazing ability to adapt to casualties, sanctions and moments of form. Among his magic tricks there will always be that 2-3 zone that made his rivals doubt and doubt, the inclusion of youth squad player Eli Ndiaye as a starting four in the absence of Deck and Yabusele and the reinvention of Mario Hezonja as a power forward, 35 minutes in the end. Facts that contrast with the criticism of his work and on which the coach gave an interesting reflection. “Today, ‘how nice Chus Mateo’, they will say. And no, I’ve only done my job. I’m right and I’m wrong. There are people who give their opinion without knowing anything about basketball, because giving an opinion is free, but I respect that, I can’t be worried about everything that is said. If someone thinks that Chus Mateo is a package, that’s it, I can’t do anything, I’ll be a package. But today I’m not so good either, I want the defeat to be nothing dramatic and the victory to be celebrated respecting the opponent”, he launched and before he had spoken about the bar of the social networks: “It’s easy, free, behind a pseudonym someone is hiding. But when I accept this job I know it’s part of the game.”